Excellent care

NHS is like the curate's egg - good in parts.

Over the last 5 years different members of my family have experienced superb brilliant treatment by the NHS.

Over the last 5 years defferent membersof my family have experienced appalling treatment in the hands of the NHS

When my husband was blue lighted to A&E last year with what turned out to be a viral infection, everyone was very kind. I rang 111 as he was so ill. They spoke to me and then to him. He didn't tell me that they had told him to ring 999 if he hadn't heard back by a certain time. He eventually told me and I rang, not really knowing what I was ringing for.

The person who answered was I credible rude. I said we'd been told to ring. He said 'Do yoi need an ambulance?'. I said 'Well I think so. We've been told to ring'. He sighed and said 'Now listen to me, do you or do you not need an ambulance?' in a very angry voice. My husband was almost delirious and I had no idea what the 111 operator had said to him.

Reported

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All interactions with paramedics have been good for us but when I was in for a couple of weeks there was no inconsequential chat with anyone apart from fellow patients.

Dh had a painful infection in a toe not long ago. Since it was only getting worse, I dropped him at A&E at around 9pm on a Saturday evening. He was attended to in just one hour, and given painkillers and ABs that soon saw off the infection.

No complaints about our local hospital here. Might add that I was profoundly grateful for the excellent care I received when very ill with pneumonia and pleurisy a couple of years ago.

I found during my husband's week on a ward, that the auxiliary staff were very kind. If they are called that now. But the staff nurses and sisters were truly awful. Shouting and basically unkind.
I luckily have found paramedics to be ex0ceptionally kind in the last 3 times DH and also I have had cause to be treated by them. Very competent but also friendly. Nice when you are scared. This is North Surrey. I will complain to PALS about the hosp treatment, but only when he is unlikely to go there again. So they will continue but I can't risk even worse treatment.

DH came home quite quickly and although he did have excellent medica care we noticed how differently care is delivered now. It all seems of course far more technical but also less 'friendly'. Its hard to describe without being critical. There just didn't seem to be any reassuring words. e.g. he was transported to the next big town by three paramedics who didn't say a word to him o the whole journey. In the large A & E all was calm, patients in every bay, nurses going about their work efficiently and then returning to the computer station presumably to make note. During periods of inactivity they dint come and speak with patients at all as we used to do. a jolly word here and there, reassuring smiles etc. I don't know if its compassion fatigue as everything has been so busy or its juts that technology has replaced that warmness. I do stress here that I am not for one minute criticising the care, I just think things have changed.

Thats good to hear

I also had excellent care last year in West Norfolk. It’s there in spades but sometimes it doesn’t work because too much is asked of it.

Good to know. For obvious reasons.

Hope DH is OK and you have recovered.