"Appendectomy - great experience"

Over the course of just over 2 hours nearly 40 people were involved in my care, ranging from admission staff, doctors and nurses to porters and meal providers.

Almost without exception they were friendly, helpful and efficient, going out of their way to explain exactly what was going on step by step and inviting me to ask any questions.

They all seemed to work well as a team, and to genuinely care about me as a person not just a case.

The only exception was just before I left, when I had been formally discharged and was waiting for my daughter to pick me up.

The nurse in charge of the area offered to push me in a wheelchair to the main entrance where the taxi was picking us up, because they felt it was too far for me to walk.

The nurse asked 2 junior members of staff if either of them would do it and they both refused, saying it wasn't in their job description, even though they were clearly standing around with no tasks to do at the time.

So the nurse did it them-self, despite that meaning they left the other patients without a senior nurse in charge.

However overall I am extremely grateful for the quality of care that I received and to all the other members of the team that made my stay as comfortable as it could be in the circumstances.