"12 days in Phoenix Ward"

I spent 12 days in Phoenix Ward from 12th December with pancreatitis and would like to pass on my thanks to the staff who looked after me so well.

The medical and nursing staff could not have been better and I was most impressed with the way they dealt with some other patients who were frequently rude, inconsiderate and often frightened.

The staff are obviously under a lot of pressure and numbers seem to have been cut to a minimum, but they continued to work very hard without complaint.

The food was excellent - a large choice each day and it was well presented and nicely cooked - the salads were particularly impressive.

My only complaint would be the state of the patient toilets - they were left uncleaned for at least 3 days on one occasion and in an appalling condition - the cleanliness would certainly have warranted complaints in a public place where toilets are inspected on a regular basis. This lets the side down somewhat when staff in the wards are so particular about hygiene and I feel that more inspections should be carried out.

With the exception of the above comment I would like to thank all the staff concerned - it is a great shame that morale is so low and the press so ready to criticize the hospital when it is evidently trying so hard to improve its image - how lucky we are to have the N.H.S. in this country and what a shame we don't appreciate it more!

Mrs Diana Child