"A credit to the NHS"

I attended the Day Case Unit at Yeovil Hospital for an upper GI endoscopy following referral by my GP. The appointment was only a few weeks after referral, despite the intervening Christmas holidays. The receptionists and nurses were welcoming, efficient and friendly and, after taking an appropriate history and checking weight and blood pressure, the procedure was fully explained. After a short wait, I was seen by the Nurse Endoscopist who detailed the procedure and went through the consent form with me. After a further short wait I was shown into the endoscopy suite, made comfortable and the gastroscopy carried out swiftly, efficiently and with as little discomfort as possible. Both the endoscopist and the nurses in the endoscopy suite kept me fully informed throughout and although I have a pronounced gag reflex and was very anxious about the procedure, they could not have done more to put me at ease and to support me through it. The results were then explained to me and a follow-up CT scan requested, one of the nurses taking the request form to the Radiology department herself. I was then asked to wait in the recovery area to ensure that all was well before being given a cup of tea and allowed home.

This is my third encounter with Yeovil Hospital (having previously had a partial medial meniscectomy and a laryngoscopy) in addition to which my wife has also attended for endoscopy and iridotomies to reduce her glaucoma risk.On every occasion we have treated quickly, efficiently and with care, compassion and respect. As a retired NHS GP and Children's Nurse, we are all too familiar with the challenges faced by the NHS but could neither have expected nor received better care than we have experienced from all the staff who have looked after us at Yeovil Hospital. Bravo and thank you.