"Emergency hip repair"

Presented to ED (formerly A & E) with a broken hip following a bad fall on 15th July, swiftly seen and admitted to D43 and operated on the following morning,a Saturday. I can't praise enough the surgeon the anaesthetist, their teams and perhaps above all the wonderful staff of ward D43, who cared for me before and after the operation, minute by minute it seemed at times. The consultant anaesthetist and consultant surgeon and the members of their teams were so encouraging and explained everything in advance, listened to my concerns, helped me select the precise treatment (nerve block epidural "local", and a cannulated screw repair on the fractured femur) and the operation was over and done with in about an hour and a half. The theatre staff were amazing, so kind and considerate, even apart from their dexterity and cleverness. Extraordinary people. The D43 ward staff were truly amazing during my days there, before the operation I was very nervous and worried about pain, after the operation I was very nervous and worried about pain! They managed my pain superbly, managed my anxiety about toilet issues, mobility around the ward, food issues etc so kindly and so efficiently. You couldn't pick any out by name, it would be so unfair, but two out of the many instances of kindnesses stand out: The person who took me down to the theatre for the operation, a frightening time for me, was wonderful - their parting words "see you when you get back" such a shot in the arm, rivalled only by their huge smile and thumbs up when they saw me back on the ward again; and the member of staff who, late at night, spotted me on my first hesitant journey on the walking frame heading nervously for my first trip to the toilet, dropped what they were doing without a word on my part, showed me the toilet and explained all the options and how the various aids there worked and parted with the words "anything you need, give me a call". These two things stand out as typical of the kindness, courtesy, and above all the skill and calm professionalism with which the wonderful staff cared for everyone in their charge. It's so unfair to pick two names out, but I do it because those particular instances will always be in my memory and because they were typical of the kindness and warmth with which I was treated by everyone on WardD43. For a day and night before my release I was moved to D48, and received there a similar level of kindness and warmth and skill. but it was my very dark initial frightening days on D43 which were lightened and smoothed by the staff male and female, doctors, nurses, carers, cleaners, every single person there was wonderful, thank you so much. A life changing experience for me, witnessing such tireless dedication.