Ipswich Hospital (Part of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

The hospital refused a request for me to be seen at the hospital for some reason, my GP had put in a referral for me but it seems there was some confusion over which department I should be seen at or something. My Gp has put in another referral and now I am on the waiting list to be seen, I was told that it could be months waiting. However the ladies on the audiology phone reception have been helpful and polite to me and have given me helpful information.

Initially in January 2023 I had very good experience with the pain clinic, my pain was being managed in my spine due to a long term spinal condition, I was given steroid injection for pain which worked well but I was advised that the pain releif may not last so I was given a letter to advise me if that time came to self refer back for another steroid injection. The doctor who had done the initial injection I was advised had left, so I am now on the waiting list to go on the waiting list, I dont know how long I will have to wait.

I had a procedure done at a private hospital, when I returned home to Suffolk I have tried to phone Cardiology department at the Ipswich hospital as instructed to get a follow up angiogram booked in for myself, I have phoned the department 3 times now and left a message twice but nobody has called me back as yet, I am disappointed.

I had a severe skin rash break out on my face which became painful whilst I was staying in another part of the UK and so I was able to get an emergency GP appointment with my friends GP, they initially guided me to the pharmacy then to the 111 service and eventually I was directed to the local A & E at the hospital. Initial tests were done and nothing untoward was initially found so they gave me antibiotics and it did eventually clear up. I took several photographs at the time of my face. I then came home to Suffolk and my own GP referred me for a dermatology consultation at the hospital. I attended my appointment and took my photographs with me which I tried to show the dermatologist but she hardly looked at them and just said to me that she needed to see a physical rash to be able to do anything more, I was most disappointed and so as a result of this I do not know what caused it and Ipswich also did not do any tests of their own either, so I am left wondering what it was and if it will come back again.

My husband came in for a cardioversion and I was allowed to be with him, I cannot thank the wonderful staff enough for their kind, patient and caring for me and my husband. Special thanks to the member of staff who made sure we knew what was happening and explained everything brilliantly.

The staff are brilliant in the eye clinic, I was very nervous beforehand and the kind staff helped me with my fear, they took my hand and reassured me. The treatment is good and I just feel grateful to the NHS.

I have had very good experience from the NHS and can only speak highly of all my experiences to date. I have a lung condition called aspergellosis and when I attend the hospital I feel that staff are well informed about my condition and also that I have anxiety so they treat with great care. They invite me to wait in a small side room before I am called into my appointment so that I do not have to sit in the main waiting area, they really do look after me. I feel safe with them and content that they know what they are doing.

I was given options after my large operation, I was told that unfortunately they had not managed to get it all out. Staff in the cancer/radiotherapy department urged me strongly to have further treatment. I chose not to take up on this treatment but it was being pushed at me quite hard. I had made my decision but I would have really preferred it is the staff in this department would have listened to me more and tried to really understand me in it all and where I was coming from and to have been more patient centred and patient focussed.

I have been seen by the respiratory department at the Ipswich hospital since having had the top section of my lung removed at Norwich hospital as a result of cancer. The nurse specialist has been absolutely fantastic, he has been so good and very understanding and able to see things from my perspective rather than putting his opinion over mine. This department really could not have done anything any better.

I came to the Hospital via Ambulance due to potential spinal cord compression. I was quickly admitted and left to rest, then seen by a Dr. Everyone iv seen has been so caring and considerate. Having been an ED nurse for 21 years myself I could see they were short staffed. My personal care has been great so far, but the only thing I can say is I need help getting my belongs out of my bag due too my spinal surgery so this could be addressed. The meals are lovely, I am gluten free due too allergies and even though choice is limited the staff are amazingly kind, considerate and sociable. Would I reccomend this ward "YES I WOULD" You have nothing to worry about, everyone in my 3 days here have been so caring.