"Hip replacement and 5 admissions to diagnose..."

I am a nurse , trained at the above hospital in 1976.

.After what was felt to be an amazing hip replacement , pain gone I progressed really well over 10 days as an in patient on Ward 15 . All the staff , every single one of them worked hard to maintain high standards of care and cleanliness. After approximately two weeks, I experienced increasingly severe back pain. My G P helped to a degree but ultimately. I called help from the Paramedics . I was I discharged on one occasion on a Friday night and told to return if pain increased , I had to return to AE on the Sunday . This was one of 5 visits , the last one being met with resistance ,by a Senior doctor , who said to my husband the pain was under controll and to take me home and ask GP to refer me to RVI neurosurgeon . My husband refused , he said once the morphine had worn off the pain would return. After discussion an AE staff / Sister , it was agreed I can stay on AE overnight . The following day I was admitted and referred for an MRI , later to ultimately be diagnosed with discitis , I remained in hospital for a further 3 weeks on IV antibiotics . I cannot recall the wards I was on , as I was transferred , as the bed allocation demanded . My experiences during my stay on several wards was impressive . As each bed became empty , the cleaning process required for the next person was exemplary . On one occasion a lady was diagnosed with a possible bowel infection , immediately a team of cleaners arrived , curtains were removed the whole bed space was deep cleaned , impressive . All wards deserve a five star rating some I was only on for such a short time and can't even remember which one I was on . The Sister on ward 15 was exceptional as was all the staff . This was probably the longest therefore got to know staff better . However every ward offered the care and consideration to all patients .

There a new element of care offered to me , as there was always a difficulty with placing a venflon in . They were the Purple team that came around at night to offer this service , excellent as for me it ment no interruption in my I V antibiotics .

I am proud to have trained at the local hospital , they are an inspiration and offer one excellent service to our area Well done University of Durham Hospital ( Dryburn ) to me , you deserve 6 stars if I could give them you, the service outstanding . Cecelia Lowe