"Visit to Medway Maritime A&E"

My 2016 didn't start very well for me as my husband had to ring for an ambulance yesterday as I couldn't breathe. The Rapid response arrived within three minutes closely followed by two paramedics, I have Emphysema so they transferred me to hospital.

On arrival I was quickly taken to a cubicle covered from head to toe in sticky tabs while the two nurses chatted in nurses speak about Sepsis protocol, all the while laughing and joking with to put me at my ease.

I was swiftly moved to my own cubicle, introduced to my nurse and seen immediately by a very upbeat Registrar, treatment agreed I was handed over to a very capable Junior Doctor. At this point the sticky tabs came into play, blood was extracted I was then taken for an X-ray. Back to the cubicle with where further poking and prodding ensued. This all took place within a hour of arriving.

I then had constant updates from the doctor while they monitored my progress which I'm happy to say improved rapidly, the Doctor contacted the Community Respiratory team and as I'm already one of their patients the hospital said I would be allowed home.

But while I sat at the end of the department with everything in full view, I admit it does look chaotic but trust me its organised chaos. The Porters alone must walk miles a day, and Housekeeping it must be like Groundhog day every hour as the constantly clean sweet and wash trollies and cubicles, and lets not forget the ladies with the tea trolley that I thanks for the two cups, sorry but I never got to drink them.

I know the Medway gets a bad rep, and maybe I've just been lucky but this is the fourth time I've been in with my condition and I can't fault them.

But my last words of praise go to my wonderful nurse who unfortunately was only agency he was called Jude and was I think maybe from Philippines, he went above and beyond. Sort it out Medway and give him a full time job your definitely missing a trick.

I know the hospital are in specials and I'm not saying there aren't problems, but do they actually talk to patients or get them to tick boxes because trust me you'll only get the moaners filling them in.

I was treated with humour, care, consideration and dignity. Show my e-mail to whoever, I'm not in sure who does the checks on the hospitals, maybe if they actually got down and got their hands dirty the might realise that the only problem the Medway has is it covers a too bigger area, in a too small hospital with too few staff.

Thank you