"Orthopaedics at Swindon's Great Western Hospital"

The injury I broke the bottom end of my femur into several pieces when the ladder slipped. I also knocked the end off my elbow. The Good News A&E at The Great Western were, yet again, excellent. No delay, considerate attention and I was told what was going on and what was going to happen. My wife was able to stay with me. The surgeon seems to have done an excellent job in rebuilding my knee (it's now 4 months later). The orthopaedic ward was excellent - except when they were short-staffed. The Occupational Therapist was a star. She even delivered the kit to my home herself because we live outside their contractor's area. She seemed more attentive than the physios. The Bad News Nothing was arranged for my recovery after leaving hospital, apart from a first clinic date in 6 weeks. I had to ring up to get some idea from the physiotherapists about what I should be doing. But there were no written instructions and no local arrangement. (I had to sort my own sessions with the GP's physio and she's been brilliant.) The clinics were inadequate as well. They clearly had more patients than time, didn't explain why things needed to be done or why I was going to be laid up for 6 months. I got no written instructions and the recovery regime was left up my own physio. The summary What a potential waste of the surgeon's time if the after-care is not provided for.