A PATIENT treated at Stafford Hospital for nearly a quarter of a century says he has never been treated with anything but care, dignity and respect.
Tony Smith, 61, said he had been living in Stafford since 1988 and suffering from Crohn’s disease - a debilitating long-term condition predominately affecting the gastro-intestinal tract - for thirty years.
“Over those years I’ve had around 20 operations and most of those surgical procedures were carried out at Stafford Hospital between 1999 and 2011,” he said. “I have been an inpatient in Stafford Hospital at least four times every year since 1988.
“I have also spent time on most of the wards at the hospital in that time and I can honestly say that I’ve always received very good treatment at the hands of excellent doctors and nursing staff and I was always treated with care, respect and dignity.
Mr Smith, who has had nine bowel surgery operations for his condition and estimates he has been in the hospital between 80 and 100 times, said he had met hundreds of other patients in his time and had never come across anyone who had a bad word to say about the treatment they had received.
“Obviously there must have been problems a few years ago, but all I find at the hospital is excellent treatment provided for the people of Stafford and outlying areas.
“I would also say the A&E department has improved 100% over the last few years,” he said. “I have been in there more than a few times and it’s a pity it’s now not open 24 hours a day.”
“Obviously things have gone on in the past that weren’t right but I couldn’t have asked for better care in my time there.”
Mr Smith also thanked Dr Susan Knight and her colleagues at Browning Street surgery whose care he said had been exemplary over the years.
He added: “I would like to say to all the people who are boycotting Stafford Hospital at the moment they should stop and think because Stafford Hospital is one of the safest in the Midlands right now."
