"Excellence"

I was suddenly afflicted with a searing pain in my knee with rapid onset of swelling. I was terrified that I had sustained another rupture to my quads tendon. After failed diagnosis and delayed surgery at another hospital when I injured my other knee I was left being unable to walk properly for 3 years and had to retire early from work .

I needn't have worried. In A&E the nursing staff listened to me carefully and offered me pain relief. I waited a long time, on uncomfortable chairs without a means of elevating my leg, but I was confident that when it was my turn, all would be well. The A&E doctor who examined me was sympathetic and understanding. They referred me to the orthopaedic team after an x-ray - even pushing my wheelchair to x-ray themselves . Special thanks go to the portering staff who brought me back to A&E and later took me to the observation ward. They were cheery an chatty - just what I needed.

Later I was seen by an orthopaedic doctor who again was wonderful. They admitted me to a ward where

I was given strong pain relief by nurses who couldn't have been kinder. Again I was seen by orthopaedic staff during the night and in the morning before the consultant came to see me. They managed to negotiate an MRI scan even though I did not warrant an emergency. The ward staff who provided the meals and the cleaning staff were quietly efficient .

My knee is in a mess, but nothing that needed surgery, so I was discharged with crutches and after a really useful chat with the physiotherapist.

This was an example of how efficient professional joined up clinical care can be. I look forward to attending the out patients appointment to thank clinicians in person