Patient Letter to Bristol Evening Post

In January, I went to the NHS Treatment Centre at Shepton Mallet for a knee replacement operation.

I chose this centre rather than local Bristol hospitals as they had very short waiting times and, for me, transport was not a problem.  The operation was carried out successfully by a team of Scandinavian surgeons, who were very friendly and attentive, and the nursing care after the operation was not just good but outstanding.

The hospital has a team of physiotherapists who soon got me mobile and I was home in five days.

Unfortunately I had to return for a week due to a deep vein thrombosis complication diagnosed immediately with an ultrasound scanner.  Again, the treatment was excellent, with follow-up calls after discharge to check all was well.

The food at the Centre was excellent with a multi-choice menu for every meal, and every day the three-bed wards plus en suite bathrooms were dusted, vacuumed and floors washed so that the place was immaculate all the time.

The staff at Shepton Mallet may be justifiably proud of their centre for, while there, I experienced the NHS at its best.

This letter appeared in the Bristol Evening News on 13th March 2008.

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