Queen Alexandra Hospital 2019-06-29 Person 5 5 0

I chose to have an elective Caesarian following a very traumatic birth at St Richards in Chichester. The two experiences could not have been more different. From the moment we walked into the theatre for the birth ever single member of staff was kind, compassionate and totally reassuring. I was very nervous and anxious but the staff’s confidence was so settling. I would like to comment particularly on the following staff: Charlotte Phillips: the most wonderful member of staff. From my clerking appt to completing my spinal to checking on me after the birth she was spectacular. Confident, engaging and with the most beautiful manner towards both myself and my husband. Dr Lees: performed the c section. Kept us updated throughout the procedure and was so professional. Dr Ian Taylor (i think): anaesthetist. Funny and warm and took some amazing photos! Theatre staff - Mandy and Hollie. Made us laugh and looked after us so well Christine in recovery: so kind after the operation and made us all very comfortable. Once we were on the ward, Jenny took care of us. She helped me stay on top of my pain, assisted me in and out of the bed and made me feel very comfortable. She was also extremely kind to my husband, something we did not experience at St Richards. There he was made to feel like a burden and inconvenience. Jenny made him feel as he should - an equal part of the process. Jenny was also instrumental in securing a separate room for me which I was entitled to due to my mental health problems. All the rooms were taken when we got there but she kept checking for us until one became available. All other staff looked after us well throughout the night. One of the maternity assistants (I didn’t catch her name) was quite rude and abrupt however. She was relatively short, had a dark brown bob and was a larger lady. She was the only person the whole time who made us feel like we were bothering her and that she did not want to be there at all. But that was the only member of staff there was an issue with. Angelica looked after us in the run up to my discharge and was lovely. She explained how to care for my wound, the stockings, the injections, everything I needed to know. Again, she was very empathetic and friendly, making us all feel comfortable and reassured. I know half of this isn’t relevant to B7 but please forward our thanks to all the staff involved.