He had heard “concerning stories” and wanted to hear opinions because he was “worried the management of the hospital is not delivering”.
Whether his motive was to stir up a hornet’s nest of criticisms, slating and a campaign of discontent against the hospital, or gather commendations to give the management and staff a pat on the back for the sterling work they do on the frontline of critical care day after day, we can only draw our own conclusions.
One thing is for sure; health services’ experiences are one thing everyone loves to share.
What came back to the MP was a flood of mixed experiences and views – from the outstanding admiration of the professional staff to allegations of negligence and terrible avoidable loss.
That’s the thing about health care experiences, no one’s is the same and everyone’s expectations are different.
Circumstances, human nature and how life works out, mean there will always be a lottery of the care individuals receive.
Putting yourselves and your loved ones into the hands of care professionals is the ultimate mark of trust.
Not everything works out how we hope.
We expect physicians and clinicians to be magicians and miracle makers who can make everything right.
Often, they simply can’t because of nature not a lack of skill.
Failure affects them as much as it does the patients and their families.
Yet we are very quick to blame and accuse when anything doesn’t turn out how we hoped.
Not everyone can be seen first and quickly; waiting, whether on site or in the virtual queue for appointments is an inconvenience, but only a cause for complaint when it falls outside the target times for individual conditions.
I’ve needed to use services and specialists at the James Paget Hospital for two different conditions this year.
The first for a fractured hand in January, for an x-ray, A&E care and consultation and follow-up with an orthopaedic surgeon, with a self-referral for physiotherapy.
Last week, I was in the oral surgery department after a wisdom tooth extraction that went wrong earlier this year elsewhere, leading to the need for hospital surgery to rectify ongoing problems.
Walking through the hospital entrance always comes with trepidation taking me back 11 years to my late father’s catastrophic stroke, which led to four months in the hospital.
On my two visits this week, I was struck by how positive, warm and friendly every member of staff I encountered was and how purposeful and professional the place was. More than 11 years ago.
I found a parking space easily, and the parking app is a total boon to avoid the dreaded ticket queue.
I was early and seen early, had x-rays and CT scans with minimum wait, saw highly professional practitioners, who explained exactly what they were doing and why, and treated me like I was their only patient.
I was facing surgery because of a traumatic previous experience that resulted in a burned lip from a drill during a procedure on my wisdom tooth, which led to a gum that has never healed erupting in a painful abscess and infection this summer demanding courses of heavy-duty antibiotics.
Acknowledging this, I was treated with the respect and caution that someone should have after such a difficult experience.
But what I saw around me were grumpy, demanding and obstreperous patients to the patient courteous staff.
Huffing and puffing at having to wait, believing their right was to be seen first because their needs and time were more urgent and important than anyone else.
From reception staff to nurses, surgeons, consultants, and x-ray staff, every staff member scored 10 out of 10 on all accounts.
It’s rare today to find such positive, uplifting service.
Perhaps I was lucky, or have more realistic expectations?
But I found little has changed since my cancer treatment at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in 2011.
I’m now awaiting surgery feeling fortunate we have a free service with the people who work in it with such grace and care considering the worst of humanity they face in their jobs every day.
AN ESSENTIAL CHANGE
Any parent who watches that dreadful footage of Harvey Willgoose backing off from his young killer will feel sick.
Harvey feared going to school because of weapons and was persuaded to go that day, which led to his death.
Metal scanners must be installed in every school because nothing is changing.
A terrible state of affairs but an essential one.
FLYING THE FLAG
The most magnificent display of flags hangs in the reception of East Norfolk Sixth Form College.
Each flag represents the nation of origin of its students – more than 70.
Their message is that everyone is welcome in its community and diversity is what makes it community so special.
It felt safe, open and warm – in stark contrast to the display of union flags and the George cross from a nearby bridge, which said the opposite, carrying messages of exclusion and rejection.
This was so close to the James Paget Hospital where so many staff carry out outstanding care to people who fly these flags.
They can learn a lot from those sixth formers.