Why are so many people always ready to knock the Health Service? Television reportage brings us the sad stories of old people in hospitals sadly neglected and uncared for by the staff.
Well I am an old lady (hey, who said that?). I never admit to being old, only senior in years, but have unfortunately had to spend quite some time in various hospitals and cannot praise them enough.
First I had several visits as an in-patient at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Then I was transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital, where I had to spend several two week periods, twice a year. As the name implies, I was treated most royally at all times. My stay at the Princess Royal in Sussex was also excellent.
In each hospital the staff did their best to make myself and the other patients around me comfortable, nursing us with patience and care. Nothing was too much trouble. Obviously some members of staff were more conscientious than others and like all of us had their good and bad days – we are after all only human.
The food was excellent and we had a great choice from the varied menu.
Each hospital is like a mini metropolis with shops, banks, restaurants as well as art exhibitions (food for the soul). Every morning the little city awakes to the hustle and bustle of people running this way and that. Doctors, nurses, health workers, admin staff, ward orderlies and pharmacist go about their allotted tasks, be it in the Out Patients for consultation, in the wards or operating theatres. Patients, visitors and nurses mingle and interact.
At the end of each day as if a curtain falls, the hospital becomes silent as people go to sleep, and nurses glide noiselessly about. The next morning another busy day dawns and the ‘city’ awakes once more.
Everyone works long, arduous hours due to financial short -comings and the cutting back of staff but the majority are professional doing the best they can. So please let us sing the praises of all the hard working staff.
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