"Sorry if this is a bit long, I ..."

What I liked

Sorry if this is a bit long, I just want to say my thanks...

I broke my arm when I went ice skating in Plymouth.All the staff were very friendly and sympathetic. I was very reassured, as one of the nurses helping me was the mum of one of my friends!

When the X-Ray was assessed, I was told I had broken both the ulna and radius, near my wrist. The doctor said I needed an operation to put it back in place, and put either wires or pins in it. I was really scared, but all the nurses and doctors answered all the questions I had, so I became less scared.

I was taken to the Louisa Carey Ward pre-op, and the nurses there were very friendly. Both the surgeons and the anaesthetist came to meet me and explain what was happening.

When I went into the room where I was to get anaesthetised, I was given oxygen, which made me calm. The anaesthetist made me laugh, so when they put the mask on me with the sleeping gas in it, I was very calm.

When I woke a couple of hours later, I vaguely remember the nurses in the Recovery room being kind and giving me my saviour, morphine! I was taken back to the Louisa Carey Ward where i slept from about 12pm till 2:30 pm. I woke up with my arm held above my head, which was suprisingly comfy. I was soon wriggling about in pain, as my arm hurt and my stomach was agony, as I had not eaten since lunchtime the previous day. When I was sorted out, I fell back asleep and woke at 8:30 am. I was given a sling and at lunchtime I was allowed to go home-YAY! I really enjoyed my experience there, and this might sound a little weird, but I'm kinda looking forward to my next operation there! After all, it was the bst sleep I've had in ages!

What could be improved

These are just a few minor things.

When I got my sling, which was meant to last me 6 weeks, it was just a thin fabric one, and because of health and safety with children it had to be done up with tape. Within 24 hours it was wreck! My parents had to buy me a proper foam one themselves. When my friend broke her hist a week later she was given a foamy one.

It was also ages waiting in A&E, and even though I was crying, it was still 30 mins before I was ad,itted to X-Ray.

The parking in the car park was also really bad; when i went to the fracture clinic we had to park on the other side of the hospital and walk across in the rain.

Finding our way about in the hospital wasn't that easy as there were no signs and the corridor was full of trolleys and cardboard boxes

Anything else?

I would jus like to say a really big thanks to the hospital, especially the Louisa Carey Ward!