To report a fantastic experience with the NHS?

[Wellthen]

What with all the general public services bashing that goes on thought I'd start a nice thread!

I realised a little too late that I am not registered at a doctors at my new address and needed my pill. I registered but couldnt get an appointment (this hasnt been my experience before in a different PCT where you could register at your first appointment) and the receptionist advised family planning.

Went along, got seen in about 45 mins. Asked for a pill which would help with my skin (as well as do the normal thing of preventing babies). Despite the fact they arent meant to perscribe new pills the nurse explained how she could work round this system to give me a good one. (I dont smoke, I'm under 35 and I'm not overweight so I at the lowest possible risk when it comes to the pill before people say she shouldnt have done this.) Gave me two packs then and there as well as doing all the important stuff of taking history and warning me about thrombosis. She chatted to me about smear tests and STD checks. She didnt push anything on me - didnt say I should be using condoms when I said I don't (in a long term relationship) or ask me if I want the implant as every other health proffessional seems to do! She was polite, friendly, non-judgemental and incredibly helpful. Most importantly she is is credit to the medical proffession as she recognised what I needed as her patient and treated me as an individual.

Anyone else have some nice stories?

I had a referral for a medical support - no letter arrived after a month so called up dr who said to call hospital- the hospital hadn't received it - called gp - they had a letter from hospital advising referred to another dept - rang that department - they hadn't received it - at this point a little cheesed off but....
the lady called the gp, got something faxed, took it personally to registration and organised an appointment for 2 workings days time (Rather than two weeks to get any appointment).

Sometimes it is how they deal with things when they go wrong that makes the difference. Many times in such situations of failure people become defensive and obstructive but this lady just sorted it all out in one go :-)

Not personally, as we tend to go private but my friend fell one evening and had a concussion and really injured her lip badly. She fell flat on her face, lip was bleeding a lot etc.

She waited a few hours and thought it would stop but then decided to call NHS Direct at 5am in the morning. It took her five minutes to remember her address. While waiting for the nurse to call her back she fell asleep and a bit later she was woken up by the ambulance. The nurse was worried when she didn't answer the phone and send an ambulance.

I really think that was a positive experience.

My elderly aunt isn't able to get to the surgery unaided and there's not always someone available to take her.

Both her doctor and the nurses happily go to her home, don't let her feel she's a nuisance (her biggest worry!) and treat her with real respect.

Our own family doctor understood that teenage DD just HAD to get rid of her spots before the ball so put her straight onto the "guaranteed success" prescription rather than trying the "might work" one first. I could have hugged him, and DD had beatiful skin for the ball.

I am totally indebted to NHS Hospital nurses this week, even though some of them may possibly judge me as a relative who's abandoned an old man with them, on a long bank holiday weekend, who really does not need a hospital bed, and simply needs an eye kept on him for his own well being. Never once have they made me feel guilty, not once have they even hinted at how shit the whole situation is, neither has there been even a flicker of judgment (I feel guilty enough, I judge myself, he cannot be with us and his hospitale admission is forcing action we've begged for for so long) I've been hugged, reassured, and my FIL has been humoured, comforted, and cared for over the bank holiday. Every timeI visit, my children are fussed over, I am offered tea even though it may be a shift change and everyone's knackered, if I stay past regular visiting hours I haven't been shoo'd out.

I work with student nurses. I see them come in green, I see them leave ready and well trained... in the last few days I've seen them after they've been doing it a few years, and they really do deserve so much more respect (and money) than they are given. They have made an awful few days bearable.

IF YABU op then I'm proud to be U too.

I had to take DS2 to Great Ormond St today. All the staff were lovely, especially the neurologist, who couldn't have been more caring and kind to us both. DS has needed lots of treatment and tests over 3 years, I often think how incredibly lucky we are to live where we do and be cared for by such amazingly dedicated and exceptionally skilled doctors, nurses and physios.

After slagging off receptionists on the other thread, Id like to take his oppotunity to say how amazing nurses are.

My son has been in and out of hospitals all his life, 4 hospitals in totally and he's not yet two and the nurses were amazing in all of them.

The practice sister at my local surgery is wonderful. She always gives proper time, and treats me as an individual. Last time I had to be weighed, I knew I would have gained due to reduced mobility. We agreed that I would shut my eyes, she would read off the weight and note on records. That we did with not a word from her about diet/ exercise.

That was a few months ago. I saw her in Asda last week, luckily I had a healthy trolley that day. I said hello, but you probably don't remember me. She said, " of course I remember you! How are you?" And I could tell she really wanted to know.

But it looked like she was on a rare lunch break so I just said I was really well and let her get off.

Nice thread

I work for the NHS but as a parent of a patient I recently took dd2 to the GP re psoriasis and the GP was amazing. Very pro-active and sympathetic. Lovely with dd and gave us 7 items on prescription.

When DS was 8 weeks old he had a 'cold' and kept throwing up his milk so being a first time mum I panicked and took him to A and E.

As soon as we arrived the receptionist called for a nurse and he was rushed straight through to resus. He spent the next 10 days in hospital, 5 of them in HDU and the care he received was fantastic I couldn't fault anyone from the cleaners to his consultant.

While he was in he was due to see a consultant for an unrelated issue, when we asked the staff about rearranging the appointment they instead arranged for him to be seen on the ward at the end of the clinic.

he is 3 now and has had over 20 admissions and numerous A and E and consultant trips and each time his care has been fantastic.

I absolutely love the fact that we have the nhs.
Last week they saved my daughters life. They acted so fast and cared so much and despite the workload and paperwork they're all so kind and on the ball no matter what time of day or night.
We are so lucky to have them there for us whenever we need them.
I sent a card today to thank them but felt like they deserved so much more.
Great thread!

Also, the paramedics were like Gods, they were calming, brilliant, understanding and saved my sons life many times.

I know they get heavily abused in their jobs by drunks and others but for us they have been utterly utterly faultless.

It really takes a certain type of person to be a paramedic and the type of person they have been to us desrve medals, all of them.

I sent a card today to thank them but felt like they deserved so much more.

Write to the chief executive of the hospital, or the local paper (or both) to express your thanks.

I had a really good experience when I had surgery (well, as good as surgery can be!). The nurses were really attentive and looked after me.

I wrote them a thank-you card afterwards, and they wrote me a thank-you card for saying thank-you! I felt like I should thank them for thanking me for thanking them....

I too work for the NHS and while it's not in a medical role, it is heartwarming to read some of these evaluations. :)

My mum had absolutely fantastic treatment from nurses, doctors and surgeons when she went in for an operation two years ago. Lovely, caring, wonderful people.

I've started with tonsillitis for the goodness knows what time in 5 months, it started Saturday night with the pain, by yesterday evening I couldn't talk and was panicking as I was struggling to breathe. DP called out of hours who arranged a call back telling us to go to hospital and a doctor would see us, we were seen within ten mins of arriving, given anti biotics from their supply as there were no chemists open and he didn't think it was wise to wait longer and given advice on speaking to my own GP to get my tonsils removed.

From DP calling 111 to us walking back in the house with tablets it took 1 hour 15 mins.

We're bloody lucky to have the NHS.

I have had medical treatment since I was a baby for an ongoing condition, and fertility treatment for 15 years. I have attended many GP's and lots of hospitals and am now well over 50 years old and I have never had a bad experience with the NHS.

My gran 90 tripped yesterday and broke her nose in her home. The ambulance staff and and emergency staff at Bradford infirmary were fantastic.
She has been singing their praises all day.
She really felt like they cared.

My DS1 who has just turned 4 cut this thumb in a door when DS2 shut the door :(

The NHS was absolutely brilliant! We weren't home, they were with my mum who doesn't drive. I called emergeny and they sent over a paramedic in a car, an ambulance, took them all to hospital.

The paramedics were lovely, really calmed DS down, the doctor who did his surgery were amazing. One showed him a video on his phone to distract him while the anesthetic kicked in. They gave him a gas mask for his doctor kit because he liked hem so much !!

The nurses in the children's ward he stayed in were brilliant as well. While it wasn't an experience I ever want to repeat, DS said that he had a good time at hospital!!

I am so so thankful that I live in this country with the NHS.

I know it's very mundane, but I gave birth last year and the postnatal support was/is fantastic. Lots of hands-on help with breastfeeding in hospital, followed by midwife visits at home, amazing BF counsellor at hospital clinic who once spent 1.5 hours with me, HV actually visiting me at home for a chat when I said I was struggling/feeling low and booking follow up appt just to make sure I'm ok. I'm a clueless new mum and I never expected all this as standard. The NHS is wonderful, it makes me well up!

My ds was born at 34 weeks and was battered an bruised.

The care he(and I) received was second to none, I think about the Nurses and doctors and assistants every single day.

They went out of their way to give me hugs and coffee and helped so much with breast feeding too.

My ds would not be here without them, they truly are all angels.

Within the space of 10 months, I gave birth to premature twins more than 12 weeks early and my H was diagnosed with cancer. We had 61 days in hospital with the twins on intensive care and special care, and then 3 months on and off with H in Christies (a specialist cancer hospital). Then we had years of follow up appointments and all 3 are healthy (and tucked up in bed as I type )

Without the dedication, professionalism, care and just utter brilliance of the NHS, I'd have lost my family.

I have Crohn's disease & am having my 1st flare up since diagnosis last year. I rang my IBD nurse at 8.15am this morning & left a message - she called me back at 9.30am & I'm seeing the consultant on Friday.

Thank goodness for the doctor who saved my life[suicidal] . A GP who after a long time of being messed with....smiled at me gently and said " trying hard to be brave ?"
I was beyond talking . He sorted me and cared . Kindness . Not prescribing drugs on their own .......kindness . I have never forgotten the feeling of relief I was cared for .

I've recieved excellent care from the NHS. I can't praise my GP highly enough. He has always looked after me. I also had mental health problems and he really helped me out.

I also had major surgery about a year ago to remove a manky kidney. The surgeon, his receptionist and all the staff at the hospital were fab. I was so scared I was literally throwing up just before my op, but it went really well.

Maybe I was lucky, because the urology ward was moved to the hospital in a posh city, but I can imagine that going private would be like that! The nurses and doctors were really nice people and the guy who brought the tea and biscuits was a young, handsome and very charming Polish man lovely.

I sent a card to the surgeon and said thanks and asked him to thank all the staff at the hospital.

So many reasons to be grateful to the Nhs. I'm particularly gratefully to the nurse took time to listen to me when I couldn't sleep in hospital when I was admitted with an unstable lie before my third child was born. I was fretting and tearful about my other two dc and she listened and didn't belittle me. I know that she was really too busy to do it but she gave me the time I needed although medically I didn't need anything at that moment.