"The best and the worst of times"

Anything else?

I had breast cancer. From the day i saw my Gp to my operation took four weeks.

On the first day at the hospital i had all the tests done on that first morning. one week later i was given the results. Four weeks later i had a masctectomy. the staff at CFH were excellent.

When I had a plaster removed from my ruptured achilles tendon, such a fuss was made I thought i would have to remove it myself, then i was told to make an appointment to have it replaced in four weeks time. I refused to leave until the plaster was replaced. I wasn't rude i did not raise my voice i was polite but firm. The plaster was replaced.

On a recent visit I dislocated my little finger, for some reason there were only about three people there. I was treated immediately and was in and out in 30 minutes. The care was exemplory.

I think patients or their relatives should speak up when they are not being cared for properly at the time so that there is a chance to rectify the situation. If you don't speak, no one can hear. I know that you worry that the patient may be victimised, but if they are not being kept clean, fed or watered it really needs sorting out before it is too late.

A nurse in training should be told that the basis of nursing is ensuring that the patient is comfortable.This entails giving bed pans, emptying bed pans, cleaning up vomit and many more unpleasant tasks.It also entails seeing that they drink water. I they are not prepared to do these jobs then nursing is not for them. It is not as though it is well paid. Why do we come across nurses who seem to loathe the patients? They should be weeded out at the beginning of training.

Why do you refer everyone to PALS, they have no medical knowledge and not much idea of what goes on in a hospital. I have spoken to them several times but have never had any feed back as to whether anything has been done about my complaint.

The complaints co-ordinator however took up my complaint and invited me to a meeting with members of staff where all my concerns were dealt with satisfactorily.