"Everyone was helpful, friendly and reassuring"

On the morning of surgery everyone was helpful, friendly and reassuring about the procedure to be undertaken.

The nursing staff when I returned to the ward were caring and helpful.

I stayed in hospital for five days postoperative care and the only thing that let the quality of care down was the hospital food. I am coeliac and therefore require a gluten free diet.

The ward kitchen assistants tried to be helpful but I felt that there was a basic lack of understanding of just what I could get from the menu. This is an area in which a little bit of extra training could be beneficial to the staff and the patient. One day I was offered soup and a sandwich for lunch, the soup was good but the sandwich was two slices of grey/white dry bread with no butter or spread and a slice of processed ham.

I also felt there were long intervals between meals and there was no offer of a cup of tea or a snack such as the g/f madeira cake.  

After dinner at 5 p.m. there was nothing offered until 8 a.m.the next morning and if dinner wasn't appetising to the patient too bad. I lost 5lbs in weight over the five days I was in hospital which is not great for a speedy recovery.