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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think the A&E staff at Norfolk and Norwich hospital deserve a...

44 replies

Grumpla · 18/05/2011 19:02

...bloody great big shiny medal?!?!

I was in there Monday night with DS (he's now fine) and I was just so impressed by all of the staff. The receptionist, staff nurse who triaged us, everyone in the A&E ward, the paediatrician - they were all absolutely brilliant.

At 1.30am our nurse even brought us a cup of tea. It was the nectar of the gods I am telling you. As if I wasn't already grateful enough for her looking after my baby and making him better. She was WONDERFUL.

There was also a very elderly lady in the next bed being treated and I was really impressed by how kind and respectful the staff were to her as well. They managed to explain the same thing to her about 800 times without sounding at all tetchy.

Everything was so calm and organised. Not at all like what I had imagined from TV! It made me feel so proud of the NHS & so grateful that they were there for us.

I hope at least one of the N&N staff is on Mumsnet and sees this. Thank you.

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 18/05/2011 21:07

DH spends a lot of time at A&E at the N&N (he's a copper and often escorts people there). He is always similarly impressed. He was also taken there after an accident once (hurt his neck in an rta) and they were brill, amused dd, brought tea for me and called dh a big girl's blouse.

Sadly, I also had dd there and my postnatal experiences were absolutely shocking. Not because they were in any way uncaring but so stretched that I received shoddy and potentially damaging care.

ShowOfHands · 18/05/2011 21:07

PandaG, my Mum too. Still going in for checkups every 3 months and they're brilliant.

Norfolkbumpkin · 18/05/2011 21:09

I went into N+N 2 weeks ago for a medically managed mc, and all of the staff were fantastic during what was a very stressful time. They were very attentive and understanding and I think we are so lucky to have such a great hospital 10 minutes up the road. A big up for the NHS!

RainbowShite · 18/05/2011 21:12

The N & N are amazing. Saved my life twice, my sons life once, and were brilliant when we were in a&e over Easter. Keep your fifthy hands off our NHS Mr Cameron.

ihearttc · 18/05/2011 21:16

I completely agree that the N&N staff are amazing!! I was there on maternity wards in November after I developed sudden PE and had to have DS2 at 32 weeks. I was very poorly but refused to admit just how ill I was and was desperate to go home to my other little boy...one of the MW's on Cley ward spent ages and ages explaining to me just how ill I really was and how going home wasn't a great idea. She hugged me and said it would all be ok. 2 days later they induced me and DS was taken to NICU where they have the most amazing team of doctors and nurses you'd ever want to meet.

DS wasn't even that poorly or tiny compared to so many of the babies in there but nothing was too much trouble for them. All the nurses on there are fantastic but there is one called Stacey who was so so kind to me and I will never ever forget her for that.

I had to then stay for another week on the post natal ward as my BP wasn't going down at all and I had another fantastic MW called Louise who came and sat with me at 2am while I was sobbing because I was so scared that the PE wasn't going as it was supposed to. It was a simple thing but meant so much.

On the day I was discharged I spoke to one of the MW sisters and explained how fantastic they'd been and she suggested I wrote to the CEO which I did. People are so quick to complain but not so quick to praise.

Really glad your DS is ok now though-must have been very scary for you.

PinkFondantFancy · 18/05/2011 21:20

Really pleased things went so well. Definitely send them a card and a big tin of choccies - I would have thought they would really really appreciate it.

1973magpie · 18/05/2011 22:13

I agree, luckily have only been in a couple of times, but both have been made much more pleasant experiences by the staff. And I was born in the old N&N a few years ago now...

KurriKurri · 18/05/2011 22:16

magpie - I had both my children in the old N & N - the maternity unit was right up on the top floor IIRC

MissyBrookes · 18/05/2011 22:19

It makes ne so proud to work for this hospital when I hear people praising the work we do. Staff are treated well here which helps but it also helps that alot of us here don't just have the job because it pays, we donor because we enjoy it and wish to make a difference :)

I'm so glad your experience there was positive. It makes it seem all the more worthwhile working in this particular hospital.

fartingfran · 18/05/2011 22:29

ihearttc your post made me well up!

thefruitwhisperer · 18/05/2011 22:36

They have been fantastic to my elderly grandfather who had a stroke last week. The whole family came up in convoy from North London and frankly, were shocked at the level of helpfulness, kindness and dignity shown to him. We dont get this in any of our local hospitals (there are about 10 in the local vicinity and none of them can stand up to this place)

I baked the nurses a cake in gratitude. They are saints.

ihearttc · 18/05/2011 22:36

Sorry fartingfran!! (great name btw!)

It was very scary...one minute I was ok and the next I was really ill.You go bumbling along expecting everything in your pregnancy to be ok and that you'll have your baby and just take it home when behind the scenes there is a fantastic team of people making sure thats exactly what does happen and I cannot thank them enough for being able to do that for me.

fartingfran · 18/05/2011 22:43

I had PE - fortunately at term - and didn't accept how ill I was until afterwards really, so it struck a chord :)

I agree, the NHS is really something to be proud of. For every moan there is about it there are so many people whose lives are happier, more comfortable and have been saved.

Sirzy · 18/05/2011 22:48

Loving this thread. Although I doubt the hospital can be better than our local peads department.

Everyone i have encountered during Ds 5 stays and numerous outpatients appointments in the last 18 months have been amazing and he wouldn't be here without them. I could write an essay on why they are great but I think the matron bringing me a cup of tea and spending 20 mins sat with me in tears because Ds hadn't been discharged says it all. The same matron went to pharmacy herself the next morning so we could leave as soon as discharged :)

hester · 18/05/2011 22:51

I used to work in the NHS, and would just like to affirm what others have said: it really means a lot to the staff to get thank you cards and letters.

ihearttc · 18/05/2011 22:55

That was exactly how I was. In complete denial that I was actually very poorly because I felt fine...but my BP and protein were through the roof. I was all set to discharge myself the first night cause I felt fine...had no headache,no blurred vision etc and I was convinced it was all a huge blip and Id be fine in the morning. I dread to think what would have happened if Id have gone home...I just sobbed at her that I wanted to go home to say goodnight to my little boy-Id dropped him at school that morning and obviously didn't go back so he was really upset. She said that she couldn't make me stay but that I was really really poorly and in the nicest way possible if I didn't stay there was a fairly good chance he might not get anymore goodnights from me at all.

Every night I kiss him goodnight now I think of that...and yes I realise that sounds incredibly soppy lol!!

ibbydibby · 18/05/2011 22:55

Another vote of thanks for N&N here...ended up staying there on Sunday evening when DS was unexpectedly admitted. Staff were lovely without exception - and I was also brought a cup of tea. One nurse in particular who was looking after DS was obviously just devoted to her job - brilliant!

WolfShapedBullet · 18/05/2011 23:01

I know most trusts check the Patient Opinion website for feedback and will often respond via there too. It's a good place to leave comments, positive or negative.
You should link to this thread, there's nothing nicer for an NHS employee than to hear you're doing a good job.
I speak as somebody who reads the comments about lazy nurses in the Daily Fail (though I really really shouldn't) and alternates between anger, hysterical laughter and wanting to weep.

Punkatheart · 18/05/2011 23:17

Another fan of the NHS here. I have been through every department of the hospital that treats my illness: scans, biopsies, radiotherapy etc. Every person I have met WITHOUT exception has helped me in so many ways. No, not simply doing their job. I have a nurse assigned to me and I swear she can read my mind. If she calls me and I say that I am OK, she asks me 'No, how are you really?' I could write a book of poems in praise of them all.

Writing a letter (or two) does help...

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