"Friendly Staff"

What I liked

I appreciated the small ward (only 4 beds). The staff were all pleasant three of them spring to mind, lovely girls.

I had a hysterectomy something I was terrified on having but I felt ok afterwards naturally a bit of pain the first 24 hours. But the worst was the second day and wow the wind!! Although each lady will have varying degrees all I can say I thought I was in labour and the worst of it lasted 6 hours and finally at 2am a nurse gave me something to sleep. It did not go away but gradually the pain decreased over the next few days.

When my surgeon came to see me the third day I think I said I thought it was evil the pain.

My surgeon was a really nice guy and said it happens.

All I can say these are very clever people they have trained over many years do extremely difficult operations but the wind!! I suggested gripe water you give it to babies I was prepared to take it and someone could pat my back as the wind can be any direction (upper or lower body). So look for wind remedies.

What could be improved

Once you have seen the Consultant and had a visit usually the week before the operation (in my case a hysterectomy) it may be helpful to know exactly where the ward is that you will be staying on.

I actually asked a nurse where the Bramshaw ward was and was it possible to go and have a look this was also helpful for my husband so he knew where to go when I had been transferred from the recovery suite.

We went in the lift up to the bramshaw level and had a little look around understandly we did not go hovering around the ward. We also looked at the machine where you can buy vouchers for tv, email and phone for the equipment next to your bed. As I was going in for a Hysterectomy I knew that I would be in for 5 days so I pre bought a voucher before I went in. As I was in the ward after visiting so if I chose I could have used it then (that night) I actually waited until the next morning.

Anything else?

I did have my mobile and kept it on silent as being aware of other patients. There was one patient luckily she left on my second day and did not use the silent switch I was not to happy. A bit of common sense.