"Total Knee Replacement"

Anything else?

What I liked.

The ward (D48) was well run – if you went half an inch the nurses would go half a mile extra for you. One patient was in distress – the nurses moved mountains to help him.

Verbal briefings during my time in hospital were better than excellent, everyone from the surgeon down to the nurse in the ward told you in detail what they were doing and why. In my 48 hours from op to exit I saw the surgeon 4 times (pre-op and 3 check-ups), his number two 3 times (at times different to the surgeon) for check-ups, and each time I was told their views and what should be happening next.

What could have been improved.

Called for op on 19 April, got as far as being changed and ready to start, then cancelled and sent home as my file had gone missing – cancellation for safety reasons. I understood reasons.

Finally done on 8 May (morning) and discharged on 10 May by 3 p.m.

Written brief about exercises in advance of op really set a minimum of exercise, one needs to do much more, to be as fit as possible when the time comes. It is worth doing upper arm exercises to strengthen arm muscles – makes using a frame/crutches/sticks much easier when you put body weight on these.

Any other comments.

In my working life I have worked in many large organisations, both good and less good. You get to recognise the signs of both. Here you could see a professional organisation working to high standards, people who knew what they were doing, and expected their colleagues to work at these same standard levels. You could see a good “esprit de corps”. From the first clinic run by the surgeon to being discharged from Ward D48 everything moved like a well-oiled machine. It is clear that someone has put a lot of hard work into the "organisation" of the work processes.

A good experience if you need a total knee replacement.