"First class care"

What I liked

I recently had a total hip replacement at South Tyneside District Hospital. From the moment I walked into Ward 2 I received friendly greetings from all the staff on duty that day. As I have not needed to use inpatient hospital services up until this point, I was very scared and anxious about what to expect.

On arrival at the operating theatre the next day, I was immediately put at ease by all the staff and was very impressed with their caring, happy nature in a frightening environment. I was treated with great care and dignity throughout surgery and when in recovery, and encouraged to relax and not be scared. The porters who took me to and from the operating theatre also went the extra mile to talk to me and make me laugh.

I remained in hospital for a total of 5 days, and I was completely satisfied with every aspect of the care I received. I was kept informed at all times and was involved in all decisions relating to my care. The food I had during my stay was tasty and hot.

I met a lot of staff and patients on the ward during my stay and had a very pleasant experience, not at all scary as I'd imagined. I would not hesitate to recommend South Tyneside District Hospital to anyone about to undergo treatment.

What could be improved

On one occasion, the night staff were very noisy, talking loudly and playing music, which prevented us from sleeping.