"Excellent care"

Seeing many poor reviews I felt I must write a review to redress the balance.

My experience of Heartlands was excellent.

I was in hospital from the 18th to 28th October, with a gallbladder infection.

As it was an emergency, and there not being any available beds in the appropriate ward, I became an "outlier" in an orthopaedic ward (ward 8).

Here I was shown nothing but kindness, and was given really good care.

I was very impressed with all the staff, who showed great patience and empathy to all their patients.

Not easy when several had severe dementia, and where I saw excellent handling of two very obnoxious patients.

The staff nurses deserve a special mention - they were run off their feet and yet still managed to keep smiling.

I felt it would have been appropriate to have an extra staff nurse on the ward, for each shift, possibly at the expense of two assistants.

There was one particular staff nurse I'd like to thank for their buoyant good humour which kept my spirits up during the long nights.

I'd like to share my admiration for my consultant and their team: whilst I was in hospital I was scheduled (as an emergency) to have my gallbladder removed.

As it was cancelled 3 times, the team, led by registrar, volunteered to stay late the following Monday to sensure I was operated on as an elective patient.

However the operation didn't go ahead as it was quite rightly deemed not to be in my best interests because the inflammation was too severe.

In the event the operation took place on December 12, as a day patient.

The day surgery unit again deserve praise.

The staff engendered a wonderfully calm, warm and friendly atmosphere, which could not but relax the patients.

One nurse in particular deserves a special thank you for not only ensuring I was really well looked after but providing my husband with cups of coffee, sandwiches and even cake in what proved to be a long day.

Last but not least my fantastic consultant, who performed a difficult operation (there was fistula between the gallbladder and the colon) laparoscopically - a feat one of our medical friends described as "amazing".

They also gave me wonderful after-care.

So all in all I have nothing but praise for this hospital.