"Awesome NHS"

I cannot speak more highly of the NHS support I received last night, truly fantastic.

Since Monday I had developed a painful and swollen knee, which after several days was showing no signs of recovery.

I was badgered to call NHS 111 by my partner when I was otherwise reluctant to do so on the grounds that it was just a swollen knee. After looking up the NHS website and potential causes and implications of a swollen knee and after developing shivers I did call 111.

The phonecall was answered promptly and the nurse was excellent, after a few minutes of questions they advised me that they were referring it to a Dr who would call me in the next 2 hours.

15 minutes later the Dr called and after a few short questions said they were referring me to the Urgent Care Centre at Princess Royal Hospital and that I should make my way there.

I found the reception desk and mentioned my name - the were fully aware I was due in and I could see they had a reminder to call me at a certain if I didn't arrive.

Within 5 minutes I was seen by the assessment nurse who again was excellent, with a further 10 mins I was seen by the on duty Urgent Care nurse. They quickly diagnosed it as an infected 'House Maids Knee' (prepatellar bursitis). I was prescribed antibiotics but was surprised when I could pay for them there and then and take them home with me.

The advice was clear and concise, they made sure that I understood what I had to do, in all thoroughly professional.

I think I phoned NHS direct at around 7:15, spoke to a Dr at 7:30, arrived at then hospital car park at 8:10 and was back at home at 8:45.

Each person in the chain of events was excellent.I really could not have received better care - truly outstanding.

The NHS always gets bad press and I just don't understand it, Ive had several reasons for using the NHS in the last two years, on each occasion the service has been excellent.

Thank you