Spire Gatwick Park Hospital 2019-12-06 Person 5 5 0

1st December 2019 EXCELLENT CARE AT GATWICK SPIRE To whom it may concern, I feel I must notify you of the outstanding care I have recently received at Gatwick Spire Hospital. I am aware that as a private hospital it could be believed that this may have influence or provide some opportunities that may not be available to an NHS hospital, but this does not assume good care! On the 19th October I had a total knee replacement under the care of Mr. Benedict Rogers. I was referred to him through the NHS route and was immediately impressed by his kind attitude. I have historically been subjected to various examples of discriminatory behaviour and/or conduct by consultants, due to my raised BMI and relatively low age. However, Mr. Rogers recognised the massive impact this collapsed joint was having on my quality of life. He appreciated the impact of the ongoing pain and the restriction it was having on my mobility, that had gradually led to me not being able to exercise effectively and being registered disabled. In terms of the hospital itself, I felt that the policies and practices it undertakes are exceptional and I am sure this must be reflected in their statistics. However, from a personal-patient’s point of view, I have had outstanding care throughout. I believe that much consideration goes into preparing an individual for their operation, not only in terms of what to expect but also how to improve their own, personal recovery outcomes. Prior to my operation, I was invited to a one-to-one meeting with a nurse who explained pre-operative procedures and did MRSA swabs; a physiotherapist to discuss my exercises pre and post operatively and to a ‘Joint School’ talk where they explained all the issues surrounding the operation and the benefits of certain recommended practices. I was issued with my walking aids before my operation in order to ‘get used to walking with them’, along with the pre-operative preparation washes and clear leaflets and advice. My operation was very successful and unlike my previous knee replacement (on the other knee), I had no drain in situ and my pain from the outset was minimal. I was weightbearing the same day and able to begin exercising immediately. The staff in the ward who looked after me also need recognition, as each was also professional, considerate and friendly. I wish I could list out specific members of the nursing staff, but there were too many who gave exceptional care. In addition, the hospital food was excellent. I have several allergies and I felt this was taken very seriously, to the extent that the ‘chef’ came to visit me on the first day to discuss my dietary requirements. Furthermore, each staff member who served me food, acknowledged my allergies, which certainly reassured me. By the time I was discharged, three days later, I already had achieved an exceptional ‘bend’ in the knee, and I believe this was down to the remarkable skill of the surgeon but also the very well monitored pain control. I was also provided with additional mobility aids which was also helpful, such as a slide sheet and ‘foot-hook’. In addition, once released home, I still felt that I could contact the hospital at any time for advice, indeed when my dressing was a slight concern I was invited back, immediately seen and reassured. My wound healed beautifully, and I quickly achieved an exceptional range of movement in the joint. I also would like it noted, that during one of my consultations with the physiotherapist Mr M Martin, (who has confirmed is happy to be quoted) stated, ‘I have seen many of Mr Roger’s patients and there is an exceptionally high success rate in terms of recovery, movement and range with his patients’ …..I feel this says it all! I was post-operatively invited back to have my staples removed by a nurse; three times to visit the physiotherapy department and to see the Mr Rogers for a final consultation. I also wish to express my appreciation that these appointments were, where possible, ‘doubled-up’ to reduce the amount of travelling required. Once again, I wish to praise the fantastic work of all the staff at Gatwick Spire, particularly the outstanding skill of Mr Rogers and the team of professionals who made my experience so much less stressful and my recovery so much quicker.