"I have always considered NHS medical ..."

What I liked

I have always considered NHS medical staff to be amazingly dedicated and hard-working, going way beyond the job and way beyond what most of us consider a reasonable level of commitment (I do not work 12 hour shifts!) for notoriously poor conditions. My recent experience of giving birth at Derby has tripled that impression.

I particularly wish to thank the lady officiating at my daughter's birth who stayed 2 hours late after an already over-worked long night when I suddenly had a major blood loss.

I was able to have the water birth I wanted despite it being very busy, all Derby's babies apparently arriving the same night (!), thanks to the same lady working very hard.

All midwives were very attentive and patient. I had trouble with breastfeeding at first, and they came to help and explain again and again while encouraging me to persist and not think I was just stupid.

All the maternity rooms are lovely, beautifully decorated and very comfortable with loads of facilities.

What could be improved

Better pay and conditions for staff, and more of them so they're not so overworked. Please keep up your fantastic work.