NHS fine by me

I have just been in the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, for over five weeks following a brain haemorrhage. I have been in many hospitals over my 81 years, both NHS and private, as a patient and a doctor, but I have now experienced a comprehensive hospital that not only had every medical facility anyone could ask for, but the housekeeping was exceptional.

Every ward had a hoist system over each bed and each one of the many toilets and bathrooms was equipped with support facilities for those who were unable to use a bath.

There was a communal sitting room/dining room, as well as a fully equipped gymnasium. The physiotherapists and occupational therapists were wonderfully supportive and always with a smile, as were the nursing staff. Nothing was too much trouble for them. I felt totally cosseted and safe in their hands, so much so that I did not want to be discharged.

The food was pretty good and always served with a smile and an offer of a second helping. All the patients were treated with the same care and attention.

The floors were mopped and cleaned daily and any equipment on the walls were also washed and dried daily.

There is no doubt in my mind that the medical attention and facilities enabled the patients to make speedy and excellent progress.

Why can’t all hospitals be run like this? It is my opinion that this hospital and the way it is organised should become an example to all hospital administrators in the UK, then there would be nothing wrong with our NHS hospitals.

On the other hand, it is shameful that a patient who feels unwell may sometimes be unable to make an appointment to see their GP for three weeks and has no option but to seek medical advice at an A&E department already overwhelmed with acute or traumatised patients.

Surely like any other enormous organisation, there should be one experienced chief executive with experienced senior managers under him/her to run inpatient services and another chief executive, with the same back-up, to make sure that out-of-hospital services are run in an organised, efficient way?

We have obviously got a quality NHS, but because of our increasing population, the cost of running it has become exorbitant. Maybe it would be wise for all immigrants to wait five years before having access to NHS services (apart from people who have lived in the EU for over five years). This would take some of the pressures off the NHS.

Furthermore, when I was discharged from hospital, the occupational and physiotherapists had arranged for a Zimmer frame, special toilet facilities, a permanent vertical hand bar in the shower and walking stick to be there. I was visited twice a week by special local NHS peripatetic physiotherapists who helped to get me back on my feet.

I was overwhelmed by the efficiency and caring of a patient by the NHS. I asked myself: “Where in the world would one find such caring support at no cost?”

Paul Brass (retired GP)

Angmering Lane

East Preston

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