"This experience has been the best the NHS has to offer"

Tuesday about 11pm, I was 1 hour from finishing a 12 hour shift and noticed some worsening dull pain coming from my right testicle and radiating around my whole groin. Thought nothing of it until I got home at half 12 and had to climb the stairs in the close, then the pain became severe. So I called NHS24. Spoke to a lovely Call Handler who noted the details and assured me I'd be called back by a Nurse. Previously I'd been told this would happen within 3 hours, not being told that this time did make me wonder if I'd be in for an even longer wait, but no. Within only 20 minutes the Nurse called back. Exactly the same as the Call Handler in terms of tone and attitude; calm, professional, sympathetic and sincere. She decided I should be seen by a GP within 2 hours.

Arrived at GP OOH at the New Vic shortly after. It wasn't busy, only 4 patients ahead of me, however there was only the one GP so it did take a bit of time to be seen. No matter though, because Dr Lawson was fantastic. Introduced himself, asked what the problem was, didn't rush me, ensured I was comfortable to be examined without a chaperone, explained the results of his examination and advised me I'd need to be reviewed by Urology at the Southern (I'm just never going to accept it's new name). He then arranged the NHS24 minibus to take me and my partner there. This was immediate, no wait.

Arrived at IAU, seen immediately by a wonderful Auxiliary and Nurse who introduced themselves, clerked me in, did obs, cannulated and sent bloods. Straight after this the General Surgeon arrived. Now this young lady was fantastic. I think everyone with the slightest bit of inside knowledge knows the reputation surgeons have, arrogant, blunt and a bit cold. Well not this one. Chatty, approachable, professional. Made sure to include my partner in the conversation, arranged for me to have some pain relief. Explained that my physical exam was the same as with the GP, extremely borderline between infection or torsion, so Urology on call was coming in. Meantime I'd be given a room in ARU 5. There was a slight wait, maybe 15-30 minutes, then one of the nurses took us through. She was wearing dark blue, so I think she was a charge Nurse. Again, professional and a caring attitude.

ARU5 was excellent. Karen was my nurse there, again introduced herself and did my obs, asked a few questions, brought me some meds and checked I was comfortable. Right as she was finishing the Urologist appeared. Now how this man got there so quickly is beyond me. It was about 3/4am by this point but this man was immaculately dressed, if he was tired he didn't show it, performed a thorough exam, explained his findings, reassured me and told me the next step (ultrasound). At this point my boyfriend went home and I tried to get some sleep.

Next thing I knew some more, again friendly, approachable and caring Auxiliaries came round with breakfast, brought me a fresh theatre gown, towel, shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste. Before I went to freshen up the day shift Nurse came in to introduce herself, bring me medication and make sure I understood what test I was having. Now it really annoys me that I can't remember a lot of the staffs names, but it frustrates me more that I can't remember hers, because she told me it a few times and you need to know who she is because she's fantastic. Irish accent with dark hair, maybe early to mid 20's.

I was then seen by another Urology specialist who went over things again, then a pharmacist. Next was a porter to come and take me to ultrasound. He was chatty too. The staff in radiology were reassuring and generally lovely.

About 2 hours later the Nurse comes back in to tell me the ultrasound was clear for a torsion and it seems to be a bad infection, so I can go home once my prescription has been sent up from pharmacy, tells me someone will be in to take out my cannula. Not wanting to take up any more of the staff's time than necessary (and having worked clinically myself) I took it out for them. Not long after a student nurse came in to remove it, bless him I think he was a bit disappointed I robbed him of the chance! After I reassured him I'd put it in the clinical waste and not general bin, and that I hadn't bled all over the place he left again. Again, he was friendly and caring. On an unrelated note, I loved the colour he'd dyed his hair!

My prescription arrived and the Nurse bid me farewell and wished me well with my upcoming career change (because she spent some time getting to know something about her patient) That small thing really makes you feel like someone has taken an interest, despite the huge pressures they are under to care for so many other people.

I'm now home recovering.

From start to finish, this experience has been the best the NHS has to offer. Prompt assessment by superb staff. From the Call Handler to the specialist surgeons, every single one of them made me feel like they had all the time in the world to get me better. They never rushed me, never made me feel like I was being silly or bothering them. They made me feel cared for. Every member of staff, but particularly the Auxiliaries and the Porters are hugely under paid for what they do. The best I could do to try and show them they *are* appreciated, was to ask them how their day was going, and to thank them every time before they left.

I sincerely hope that each of them get the chance to read this and know what a difference they made. I tried to come across as friendly and upbeat, but I was genuinely terrified it was a testicular torsion and I might lose a testicle. Their positivity helped me keep that fear away for a while. The smallest most insignificant (to them) conversation they had with me helped.

The only person I've left out of this story, but who's role in the hospital is vital, was the Domestic. I left them out because they seemed to be having a bad day, seemed a bit upset, so wasn't very chatty at all. But hey, we all have days like that.