"Excellent combined maternity and diabetes team"

I am currently 7 months pregnant and have been attending the combined diabetes & O&G clinics at Wythenshawe Hospital.

I have been really pleasantly surprised by the quality of service provided to me by these teams. Following my first appointment I was welcomed by name at my next appointment by the reception staff who welcomed me very warmly!

I have always had my requests for appointment times met and been given the impression that there is enough flexibility in the system to meet my requests.

I feel all staff are genuinely there to help me, advise me and available whenever I need.

I had little bit of an emergency out of hours a few weeks ago and didn't know if I should go to A&E, wait for my next appointment at clinic or call my GP. I called NHS Direct and they advised me go to my closest A&E department (Manchester Royal Infirmary) so I decided to call the maternity team I am under at Wythenshaw Hospital and they advised me to come into the Wythenshaw team.

I was seen as soon as I got there by a specialist nurse who did a number of checks and allayed my fears. I was advised it may be a while before the doctor appeared, I felt confident enough in the nursing staff and the checks that they had undertaken that waiting for the doctor was not necessary - I was in and out within the hour! Goodness knows how long I would have been if I had taken NHS Direct's advice.

I have a lot of experience in dealing with the medical profession/attending clinics/using NHS services and I have to say that the team at Wythenshaw Hospital Maternity are a 'top performer' in my eyes. I have utmost confidence that the team view my care, my health and my baby's health as number one priority which makes me confident I am receiving the care I should be, it has massively improved my general perspective of the NHS too!