The Royal Free Hospital

I am currently being treated by the hand therapy department for treatment of a deep tendon & nerves cut on my hand, and I wanted to give positive feedback for the nurse that treated me. She was professional, calm, and clearly very skilled in her work. The cleaning of the wound was quite intricate, but she carried it out with care and precision, making it much less painful than I had expected based on previous similar treatments. What stood out most was her reassuring manner which puts patients at ease, to the point where I was much less aware of the discomfort. The overall experience was significantly better and more comfortable than others I’ve had for the same injuries ongoing treatment by previous nurses here or at Northwick Park. I appreciate the level of care and professionalism she showed. Claudia is a credit to the NHS.

I was very impressed with the care and professionalism at the Royal Free Hospital. From the moment I arrived, the reception staff were welcoming and helpful, making the process smooth and stress-free. The nurses were attentive, kind, and reassuring throughout, taking the time to answer questions and ensure I felt comfortable. Combined with Mr Mishra’s thorough and compassionate approach, the entire experience made me feel supported and confident in the care I received.

I have regular colonoscopies at the Royal Free. And the staff there are fantastic. They are efficient, run to time and I’m very impressed with the service that they offer. Thank you so much for looking after me.

It is a very nice and clean hospital. All the staff i interacted with was super helpful

Misdiagnosed severely with timely transfer to any of the other London Hospitals delayed. Last time when I was an inpatient head nurse was in Charge of conveying the diagnoses to me getting these dreadfully causing sever distress and unsafe discharge. Heart care in this hospital is appalling. Sadly was not able to adequately be helped by pals either. They did message the alleged managers of the teams who took on board that I am there with vital care delayed by 12 hours but nothing actually better or more competent could be insured for me. If you find yourself thinking " I am unhappy here, I do not feel.safe" and you are still mobile -run. There is Charging Cross hospital or Guy and St Thomas who have a much broader support team. These come across as very unprofessional and the moment you start compljning they do not treat you seriously : gaslight you treat you like a child. I had to scream with my lungs shutting down between 1 and 3 am to sever distress of the whole ward since I was suffocating from unreleased fluids inside since my heart was failing. It took them a week to organise a transfer while they still believe me being a stupid ASD cretin who screams too much , which a long infection and a slight valve issue. It was like being with witches and goblins who kept you suspended and just watched you die.

It has been almost four months since I donated a kidney to my husband, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had Mr Prodromos Laftsidis as my Consultant Kidney Surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital. From my very first consultation, he put me completely at ease — taking the time to listen to my concerns and clearly explain every aspect of the procedure, including both the benefits and potential risks. His calm, reassuring manner inspired great confidence before and after surgery, which was invaluable during such a challenging time. Mr Laftsidis’s exceptional surgical skill, combined with his compassion, professionalism, and excellent communication, made me feel as though I was his only patient. He also has a wonderful sense of humour, which he shares at just the right moments to lighten the mood. I am deeply grateful for his outstanding care and dedication, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone in need of a kidney specialist or surgeon.

The Royal Free Hospital Rheumatology department is appalling, they make video appointments with you, you log in and 3 hours later, you try to call and then email PALs and they tell them to contact you. If this happened once I would let it go, but now it’s the third time, and “I forgot or am busy” doesn’t wash by the third time.

Gynaecology doctors were excellent, cleaners good, nurses largely unqualified and unresponsive, night sisters lacked compassion and action. After my major gynae surgery my named nurse was a nursing assistant and could not help when my hand swelled up with fluid from drip set too fast. I kept asking for a qualified nurse or doctor to slow the drip but no-one came for 7 hours until a qualified nurse came on shift and saw my hand and slowed the drip which had been set too fast and no-one checked. No doctor checked me for 36 hours. My stay got worse as the nurses and the pharmacy had apparently 'run out' of my pain relief and I was in agony - no joy for days and I was discharged with none of my prescribed meds. My ward admitted patients from A&E all night long and the noise was awful. Patients came up with their friends, and they, including men, used our patients' WC and made a mess. A patient opposite my bed had her family round her all day and they were coughing and sneezing all the time - and I was trying to recover from major surgery. The night sisters left the bright overhead lighting above our beds, were unfriendly and never turned it off, despite me getting up to ask them. I dread ever going to the Royal Free Pond Street again.

Our son has been under the care of the Urology department at the Royal Free Hospital for some time, and we have been very grateful for the consistent care and support provided throughout his treatment. Dr. Darrell Allen, in particular, has been exceptional—both in his clinical approach and in the kind, calm manner with which he communicates. During one of the investigations related to his urology condition, an incidental finding was identified, which led to further imaging and specialist follow-ups. While we are still undergoing additional check-ups and don’t yet have a final diagnosis, we wanted to acknowledge how quickly the hospital acted, and how reassured we felt knowing that things were being investigated thoroughly and professionally. The medical staff have been helpful and compassionate, and communication with consultants has been clear and timely. We appreciate the attention and care our son has received so far. A suggestion : One point of concern we’ve experienced is the parking situation at the hospital. It can be very difficult and stressful to find parking, especially when attending time-sensitive or emotionally heavy appointments. A more accessible or better-managed parking system would greatly improve the overall patient experience, especially for those visiting with children or dealing with ongoing medical concerns. We’re still on a journey with more tests and follow-up appointments ahead, but we feel confident knowing that our son is in good hands at the Royal Free.

ED same day emergency care (SDEC) dire at night. Too many patients not enough staff, no way to have your care reviewed if you deteriorate in the waiting room. No adequate pain relief. Really, really unsafe. If you can, take your chances with another hospital.