Late afternoon on Friday, May 1, I was wheeled in my bed to the day surgery operating theatre at Maitland Hospital to have a large inguinal hernia repaired.
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Owing to the professionalism and care of the surgeon Dr Gerard Coren and his theatre colleagues, the nursing staff of the day surgery and surgical units, I was able to walk out of the hospital feeling well after consultation with one of the surgeons, at 9.30am.
I had awoken in the recovery ward at 6.07 Friday evening and was wheeled to a four-bed ward in the surgical unit to be greeted with much humour by three men who had recently undergone surgical procedures.
Two of these men were very ill, but you would not have known it.
Apart from the palpable professionalism of the place there was a delightful cheeriness among staff and patients.
That does not just happen.
It speaks volumes about attitudes and devotion of the staff that ill patients can show such cheerfulness.
As an age pensioner, this experience came to me at no direct cost.
We must preserve our Medicare.
And we must preserve one of the jewels in the crown of the Hunter, Maitland Hospital.
- FRANK ALLEY, Ashtonfield
