"Outstanding experience - thank you"

I was referred urgently by my GP after a telephone consultation about racing heart beat and low blood pressure.

My partner and I arrived at A&E, registered ( detailed as we have only just moved to the area and so the hospital had no records on me) then I was called into triage within ten minutes. Within five minutes the triage nurse arranged transfer for me to an A&E cubicle. There I was seen immediately by a nurse who started tests such as blood, ECG etc.

Within 30 mins I was seen by a doctor who said they wanted to administer a medicine to bring down my heart rate.

I would need to be moved to a next door unit but no beds were available just then. After about an hour I was given a chest X-ray then moved to the resuscitation unit.

There a really friendly pair of nurses explained the medicine was going to be nasty, would make me feel like death, and had risk of stopping my heart.

So I was put on full oxygen, and got ready for fibrillation if necessary, by shock pads. My partner was asked to leave the room. This was somewhat unnerving but the nurses and doctor could not have been more reassuring and comforting, holding both my hands as the drug was administered through canula.

It should have worked immediately to control my heart. It didn't so four more doses were given.

It was not a pleasant feeling as it went into my body, but the staff were wonderful in giving me reassurance.

It didn't work so then I was transferred to a medical ward overnight.

I was seen by another doctor there within two hours.

Next morning I was seen by a consultant, then referred to a cardiologist who I saw in the afternoon.

Treatment was prescribed including cardioversion electric shock treatment in about two months time after blood thinning treatment.

I came home that evening thoroughly impressed and grateful for the excellent treatment I experienced.

Particularly 100% of staff were polite, friendly and gave fullest explanations of treatments; much attention was paid to hygiene and cleanliness especially when beds/trollies became vacant; food was hot and tasty.

I felt this was the NHS at a level of excellence.