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?

Saw GP on the Monday for carpal tunnel syndrome at 32 weeks. Given how debilitating it was (no feeling in fingers & palm of right hand when right handed & still working) the receptionist rushed through the referral. Was told to call for a physio appointment on Wednesday was seen Thursday 9am! Apparently the mild weather had meant fewer falls so the physio department was quieter than usual but I was very impressed.

Also when I gave birth my care during labour and after care was second to none. Been meaning to send a thank you card actually that reminds me.

I have had to have various investigations and day care procedures in the last two years at the hospital I once worked at for many years.I know there are some very bad experiences out there but tbh on each occasion I felt truly thankful for the NHS.Lovely staff.Great facilities.Clear explanations for any delays.And all FREE.
I have relatives in America and Australia and each has had worries over health insurance costs and having to pay for 'extras' ie.scans in Oz.Our Health Service can't fix everything, and I feel the trouble is with greater medical advances more and more is expected of it.And people demand perfection.Well it just doesn't exist.I for one am incredibly glad I live here and have the back up of the NHS.

I took ds3 to the GP when he was 6 months old because he'd had a cold and his chest was very rattly. The GP examined him and sent us up to the paediatric unit at the hospital. The staff there were amazing, very kind and reassuring and within a couple of hours, they'd done blood tests, observations, x-rays, got all the results and diagnosed ds with a severe chest infection.

I was so impressed with the efficiency of the care we received and how kind the dr and student drs were.

Thank you so much for this thread. I'm a nurse and constantly reading nurse bashing article and having my beloved NHS kicked about for political gain is demoralising in the extreme. This thread is making me well up a bit, I hope I've made my patients feel the way your nurses have you.

I had a good experience in my local A&E, I sent a card but also an email to PALS (who you can email to complain), they sent a lovely reply and said they mostly only ever recieve complaints

I sent my midwife from ds a card and flowers whilst writing the ones from dd2-three years later . Figured it was never too late!

What a fab thread. I'm an NHS nurse and get really disheartened with the media nurse-bashing (and sometimes MN!) so it's great to read this and see that there are still good experiences to be had :)

Yay I'm so glad we've made people smile. I'm a teacher and have a lot of family who work for the NHS and sometimes working in the public sector is a lose lose situation! The press make out we're useless and no one likes us but that simply isnt the case as we can see here.

There are always stories about peoples lives being saved and that is of course fantastic. But I think the other stuff doesnt get enough praise - the politeness, efficiancy, dedication, proffessionalism, medical knowledge. We completely forget how good we have it in this country.

Not living in U.K but visiting it and staying in a hotel and one of dc's ill during the night -fearful of meningitis so called doctor. Doctor came out -free. Prescription -free. Unbelievable service. You are lucky with your NHS

I've only ever had lovely things to say about the NHS.

They tried their absolute hardest to save my parents and brother, they went above and beyond and although they never made it, it was through no fault of the care they received.

More recently, they saved the life of my one year old. She was hysterically sobbing and screaming literally all night. I took her to the walk in Health Centre at 7am (not registered there, but they saw me anyway, probably because of the absolute terror in my daughters screams).

GP advised it was probably nothing, but just to be sure, go to A&E. nurses were fantastic, again assured me it was probably nothing, but wanted to do an ultrasound just to check everything was okay with her stomach.

Turns out it wasn't. She had intersussception, where the bowel telescopes in on itself. If left, it is fatal within 3-5 days.

Hearing that destroyed me, but again, doctors and nurses were lovely. They were comforting me as I was comforting DD. She was prepped for surgery and was taken down about an hour after I arrived.

When she came up, they took us both into a private room and hooked us up with this giant cot thing, so that I could sleep with her.

Everything was done so quickly, so calmly and I was constantly reassured that DD would be fine. The best thing is that everyone thought it was nothing, but did this tests 'just to be sure'. Thankfully they did and didn't just fob me off, because my daughter wouldn't be here now if they did.

DD is absolutely perfect now. Never would guess anything was ever wrong or that she was so close to dying. I cannot praise the doctors or nurses enough. They were bloody fantastic and I'm going to stop writing now because I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Almost everyone involved with DS's care has been fantastic, from doctors who listen and converse, rather than dictate, to the wonderfully caring and knowledgeable nurses.

Our paediatric community nurses in particular are exceptional. Will come out and check on things I am worried about, will follow up with phone calls. They sit down with me and help me complete the DLA form. Kicked in all the relevant support (physio, OT, dietician etc) when DS1 was a baby and just diagnosed and I didn't have a clue what I was doing. They are complete experts and warm and caring with it. Also the lovely nurses in Yorkhill who would hold my baby DS for me whilst I was getting DS1 to the loo or getting him weighed. Also our amazingly clever, knowledgeable and supportive dietician.

I get (medical news) emails from an American charity which is involved with my DS's condition, and when Obama was trying to put through his health reforms, I saw the scare-mongering about what their health service might be reduced to, and wanted to write back 'no, it's amazing. I wouldn't swap our health service for yours for all the money in the world'

Hurrah for the NHS!

My mum took a seizure at my surgery, where she's not registered. I was in seeing the nurse at the time, and another nurse came to ask if I recognised the "ill lady wearing a red coat in the waiting room" . When I explained she said not to worry, that mum was being cared for and to finish up my own appointment.

My own GP plus another doctor off duty, plus two nurses, cared for my mum in the nicest way possible taking time to find out her name, keeping her dignity with screens etc. They gave us both a cuppa and a choccy bic, and then organised transport home through another staff member. My GP actually went above duty and followed up the situation with my mum's own GP, making sure he was aware, and spoke to me the next morning to make sure everything was alright.

If I could award my GP I could - many times she has sat on the phone trying to help me, she's literally held my hand when I've been upset, she spent an hour filling out my DLA forms with me, she pushed for me to get surgery that noone else would let me have .. Couldn't thank her enough. Bought her a pack of her favourite sweets though :)

Never had a problem with my surgery actually, thankfully - all the staff are fantastic.

Have also had three hospital procedures in the last couple of years and everyone concerned has been lovely. Had very intimate vulval surgery done whilst awake at age 20, and was worried that I'd be embarrassed but everyone involved was just lovely. I remember clinging to the anaesthetist, telling him not to leave me! He spoke to me for ages, just talking about rubbish and true to his word, he never let go of my hand. Sent the ward a card after I was discharged - never found out if they received it, but it was naughty humour - "xxxx was well known for her strange pussy" with a picture of a lady holding a bizzare looking cat ..

Also was admitted on emergency one night, and the consultant came round to see me: "You - cystoscopy - two weeks. OK? I see you two weeks. Bye" .. I panicked, having had a cystoscopy before and knowing how painful they are afterwards. Pushed the buzzer some ten times in my panic, nurse came and sat on my bed and wrapped me in a hug to stop me crying! Felt daft but, I was petrified and she calmed me down completely, she was lovely.