MY wife Val has just had her first knee replacement at the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospital. Being a diabetic, she was not going to have such an easy time as other patients as it would take her much longer to heal and stem the bleeding, but the highly professional team were very re-assuring, and offered to see us back any time we were concerned and wished to pop in.

Obviously we did not want to avail ourselves of this exceptionally generous offer without good reason, but when each successive dressing bled profusely, I was concerned enough to take my wife back on two occasions, albeit with a feeling of trepidation.

A staff nurse and another student nurse greeted us immediately despite being unaware of the exact time we were calling in, and that was impressive. They immediately ushered us both into a single private room, and brought us morning coffee and biscuits whilst they made contact with two surgeons busy operating, who then called into our room to inspect the wound and offer advice and re-assurance, before it was freshly dressed.

We returned home to Wimborne feeling as if we had been treated like royalty and could not have expected more. Through your auspices therefore, we would like to offer a huge thank you to all the staff on Derwent Ward at the RB&C Hospital, and it serves to strengthen my belief that we live in the best county of the UK for care to the elderly. Any new patient due to have this operation should now feel happier after reading this account.

MARTIN AND VAL CATFORD

Concord, Furzehill, Wimborne