Mr Neil Roberts 2016-07-30 Person 5 5 0

Mr Roberts from the first consultation was open, systematic and made no assumptions or quick categorisation. He impressed me with the way he listened carefully to my answers and gave me time to express myself in my own terms even though these were layman's rather than experts. Not only is he very approachable but as soon as I met his staff I realised he had put together a very close and effective team so that all aspects from admission to final discharge were managed well by his group even though there are aspects of the ward care which could be improved. I can only judge by my experience which was that Mr Roberts not only delivered high quality surgery but was a valuable source of confidence building during my recovery, not "laying down the law" but explaining in terms I could understand the pharmacology of the medicines prescribed and the way my body was reacting to its time on the heart lung machine. What could be improved? The pamphlet on the operation available from the hospital is very general and it would have built greater confidence to have carried away from the initial consultation a personal timetable outlining the whole process from finding an admission date to discharge from his care. That would have helped patient and carer to understand better their role and the part they need to play in a speedy and successful recovery. The discharge processes needs to be improved - co-ordination and delivery of instructions for care at home. Mr Roberts himself was wonderfully responsive to email questions and to follow-up check ups and this provided valuable reassurance during what otherwise seemed a complex set of prescriptions to manage and physiotherapy to practice at home.