"Day surgery"

Just wanted to share my story of a really good experience at Fremantle Hospital recently.

My first visit there, chosen in preference to another hospital (where I am an outpatient at the vascular surgery clinic) simply on the basis of convenience as I live only a short walk away and don’t drive.

So there I am arriving in the semi darkness after my early walk and the first thing that struck me is that everyone in the very long queue was greeted as though we were arriving somewhere special.

Which I felt of course was true.

At every stage of the day we were actually 'greeted' by a member of staff who, on what was clearly an exceptionally busy day, took the time to explain the next step in the system.

It makes a huge difference for example on an inevitably slow journey through such a system if someone actually points out where the toilets are (surprising how often that is forgotten!), and to be asked several times if I needed a blanket.

I was also touched by how often staff members were willing to chat, even when so busy. I also appreciated not having to’ insist’ that I preferred not to take paracetamol (in my experience it’s often simply brought to the patient in hospital).

I was lucky to be there only for a minor procedure (sclerotherapy) under local anaesthetic, but there too I truly appreciated the time taken to explain the process and in particular the follow up. When subsequently there was some uncertainty over this because I had been given a standard information sheet) I was very grateful that the nurse took the time to go and ask the surgeon and then amend the sheet.

And being offered a cup of tea and sandwiches was greatly appreciated too.

Lastly I was really appreciative of the nurse who, though exceptionally busy, wrote a reminder on her wrist to call Silver Chain to arrange the follow up care, and to work out how, with two hospital safety socks, I could actually walk home comfortably without having to squeeze a bandaged foot into a shoe.

The attention to that kind of detail was far and above what I might have expected on such a busy day and made for a really positive overall experience.