Dr Upul Ananda Fernando

Written by a patient at Manor Hospital

If you are reading this, then you have concerns about who you wish to be treated by. My experience with Dr Upul Fernando is a positive one. I found him and his staff to be caring and professional. I had been suffering with bouts of fainting for the last 30+ years. In and out of A & E at various hospitals in England, depending on which area I was living in. No one could pinpoint the cause. Not knowing was the greatest issue here, seconded by the fact that I was 'silently' worrying if it could be a serious condition that was being overlooked. There was also the possibility that the fainting could cause lumps/bumps/bruises or worse from its initiating a fall in an unsafe environment. During these bouts of fainting my social life was restricted, the accompanying 'unwell' feeling sporadically prevented me from driving. I went to an appointment for a Tilt Table Test, presided over by Dr Fernando... I was uncomfortable/apprehensive but willing to 'do the test at all costs'. It was the first time such a test had been offered to me. Within the hour I had a diagnosis of my condition-non life threatening. I was shown the graph produced by the test; handed a printed, single page, leaflet regarding my symptoms and how to deflect an oncoming fainting attack. The leaflet offered reassurance that there was medication available if the management techniques described did not control the problem. It was made it clear to me that the Heart Consultant, who had requested the Test, may be happy to hand-over treatment to Dr Fernando as this was his 'department' and that I should telephone Dr Fernando's Secretary for further consultation with him. This gave me a direct route to support; no (delaying) GP referral required. In my relief/excitement/haste to escape the hospital environment I left behind the printed leaflet. Realising this in retrospect, I was about to phone Walsall Manor Hospital and request a copy (such a fiddly, insignificant, inconvenient task to ask a busy Secretary to implement) ... when a copy of the leaflet came through the post with a compliment slip. One can see from the above that I was nervous, but determined, about the Test. That, despite the favourable outcome, I was in no state to ask further questions. Dr Fernando gave me clear instructions on how to obtain a future appointment where I could discuss/learn further about my condition and the management of same; he did not attempt to overwhelm me with too much information. I shall be telephoning Dr Fernando's secretary for such an appointment and have no qualms about taking his/his staffs advice.

Trust

Listening

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