"Recent experience at Geraldton Regional Hospital"

I recently experienced sudden onset severe abdominal pain (late on a Saturday night).  The pain worsened overnight and on Sunday morning I presented at GRH ED. I was seen within a couple of hours and after an initial consultation with the doctor was sent for a CT which revealed that I had appendicitis. I was scheduled for surgery that afternoon and was very quickly taken out of ED and transferred up to the ward.

I would just like to comment on the excellent experience I had from ED right through to my discharge.

The staff were very professional, compassionate and caring, explained what they were doing and made me feel very safe in their capable hands.

Whilst it is impossible to remember the names of all the lovely staff who took care of me, some of the standouts were Jenny on the ward, Anne in theatre, Adrian and Ruth who were there all through Sunday night and the lovely nurse on Monday night (I just remember she said her name means ('I am happy'). The theatre staff were very friendly and reassuring and my thanks also to the surgeons who were wonderful and seemingly not at all put out that I had disturbed their Sunday. The PSAs (patient services assistants) were, without exception, delightful, especially the lovely caring gentleman who wheeled me to theatre. At a time when you are feeling rather alone and apprehensive the kindness and caring of these people made an enormous difference to me. The good humour they displayed and the time they took to chat with me and make sure I was comfortable was outstanding.

We are extremely fortunate to have such a professional caring team available to us and what I experienced only furthers my belief that it takes a special type of person to be a nurse or similar and at Geraldton we seem to have hit the jackpot!

Thank you again to an exceptional team.