"Haematology - Healthcare excellance"

I would like to put on record my sincere appreciation of the excellent care, service and professional support provided by the Haematology department.

This has been a long-term treatment following my diagnosis, in April 2016 , of Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) - a rare condition which causes the body to attack platelets..

The condition was found by a routine blood test on a Friday. I was seen the next day at 09.00 (a Saturday - 7 day a week service!!!!) in the Acute Medical Ward who referred to the duty Haematologist who diagnosed the condition and prescribed treatment. Within three days I had a face to face appointment with a consultant. The treatment plan was later disrupted by the need for significant surgery when a completely un-related cancerous tumour was found. For over two months I was however given full support via specialist transfusions and in October a drug treatment plan was recommenced.

Drug treatments and transfusions continued until just before Christmas I suddenly felt well again, when finally, there was a positive response and my platelet count started to rise..

I still have a way to go whilst we sort out the drug therapies but it seems time to say a huge thank you to the whole team

The consultant has at all times shown complete sensitivity, respect, understanding and care – always taking to time at every consultation to explain my status and options available - both to me and concerned family members. I have never felt rushed during reviews and on visits to the department even when I wasn’t scheduled to see her personally, if she saw me in the waiting room, or bumped into me in the corridor, she stopped and took time to discuss progress. The team of nurses and the office staff have also shown the same degree of care and attention. Finally, the phlebotomists – until recently, almost without exception and for 9 months, I’ve had weekly blood tests, so I guess I’ve met them all. Despite the routine (and possibly thankless) task they perform, they’ve always been cheerful, considerate and highly professional in what they do.

Arranging and re-arranging appointments has always been easy, I don’t think I’ve ever waited for more than 10 minutes for a blood-test, the results have come through quickly, and review sessions whether with the Dr or one of the nurses, have always run to time.

It has been a pretty difficult period for me, but the love, care and professionalism of the department has kept me going and helped carry me through. Never have a felt like “just another patient”, but always like someone who mattered and at no time despite the difficulties presented have I felt that the team were going to give up on me.

The team should be very proud of the healthcare service they deliver and East Surrey Hospital should be very proud of such an excellent department.

Many many thanks to all of you