"First class care from first class staff in clean and friendly surroundings"

I had to attend Stafford Hospital ‘Day and Theatre Admissions Unit’ after a 14 day emergency referral my GP for a series of tests that the urology consultant had lined up for me. Commencing with ultrasound tests of my kidneys, bladder to be followed by X-rays of my kidneys, bladder then next into theatre where they passed a camera into my bladder and after flushing the debris out of my bladder had a look about.

After all this; which went off with military precision the consultant urologists and all the staff involved could not have offered a higher standard of care or treated me with greater respect or dignity or kept me better informed of each clinical pathway en route.

Furthermore I’m severely sight impaired and 24/7 wheelchair user, correspondingly to others what comes easily to me is a dim tunnel and I’m wholly reliant on the goodwill of staff or I end up on the floor.

Without exception and without fear of contradiction all of the staff from booking in to discharge all the staff was professional, pleasant, extremely helpful, and nothing was too much trouble; however dim-witted some of my requests must have been. Without exception the staff talked me through or explained what was occurring or going to occur.

As for the speed of the results the consultant urologist informed me that I would have to return to have more tests and that I would need to see him again due to a problem which they had picked up. Though he required another test to determine what he required to do. As I was discharged the ward staff also told my wife what was going to happen and that there was going to be more tests and then another consultation with the consultant to plan the way forward.

The non-stop negative media coverage of the past does a disservice to the current dedicated staff and consultants at Stafford Hospital. However the words of a song springs to mind “What a difference a day makes”.

All the staff at Stafford Hospital I saw or came into contact with was excellent. Especially those in the X-ray unit also the ultrasound unit as well as the theatre staff as were all the ward staff who could not have done more for me.

Mr Rao the consultant urologist and his staff prior to my coming to the hospital they ensured that due to my co-morbidities that everything clinically or physically I required was available or in place for me before I came to the hospital.

First class care from first class staff in clean and friendly surroundings.