Addenbrooke's
Hills Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 0QQContact details and Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Patient ratings and reviews
Leave a review
Help others by sharing your thoughts and experiences about Addenbrooke's.
Reviews
-
Review titled Pleasant experience but still unclear
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Shalini sharma - Posted on 18 November 2022
I visited the A&E on 17nov22. I had problems with my vision. I queued for 2 hours and was given the next day appointment because of unavailability of eye doctor. I had my appointment today and was told that I need a laser surgery to correct my problem but was asked to contact an local optician to refer me. I wonder why the doctor who saw me today can't refer as she only checked me and suggested that. Iam a bit confused.
Visited Ophthalmology on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 05 December 2022
Dear Shalini sharma Thank you for letting us know about your treatment for your eye problem. Although it can seem confusing, the usual system in the NHS for obtaining non-emergency hospital treatment is via a referral from 'primary care' - usually a GP, dentist or optician. I hope you have now managed to see your optician to start the referral process. If you have any other questions, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on cuh.pals@nhs.net. Head of Patient Experience
-
Review titled Really Impressed
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Hannah - Posted on 22 November 2022
We had been on the waiting list for our sons surgery for a few months, we received a call about a cancellation on the Monday for the following day and snapped up the appointment. I can’t fault the service we received. The staff were professional and friendly at all times, keeping us in the loop and giving our son the best care possible. The staff that anaesthetised him were lovely, they made me feel totally at ease and kept my one year old calm before his operation. The surgery was a success - with the surgeon taking her time, which we appreciated and keeping us filled in at every turn. The care afterwards was faultless and the added extra of the play team was fantastic. A long day for us parents, that could have been full of anxiety but instead was totally worth while and we were really impressed. We don’t pay these people enough for the job they do and the care they give. Thank you all!
Visited Children's & Adolescent Services on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 05 December 2022
Dear Hannah Thank you for taking the time to let us know that your son's surgery went well, and that all the staff were professional and friendly, and communicated well. Your positive feedback will be shared with the teams and will be much appreciated. Thank you again - and we hope your son is recovering well. Patient Advice and Liaison Service cuh.pals@nhs.net
-
Review titled Excellent service
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 24 November 2022
Had colonoscopy two days ago and everything was excellent. I had no discomfort at all. Staff were very friendly and helpful and I couldn't wish for anything to be better. Absolutely 5 stars. Big thank you to everyone involved.
Visited Gastrointestinal and Liver services on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 05 December 2022
Dear patient We are really pleased to hear that your colonoscopy went so well and that the staff were friendly and helpful. Your kind words will be passed to the team and will be much appreciated. Thank you again. Patient Advice and Liaison Service cuh.pals@nhs.net
-
Review titled Waste of nurse time, unsafe, and adds huge avoidable delay
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 16 December 2022
Had a recent mandatory rheumatologist nurse phone call appointment (scheduled for 11 wks after consultant requested it) about starting a disease modifying drug (dMARD). Problems with this: 0) Confusing notice sent. Appt notice just said was a phone appt with "Practitioner Clinic." No dept listed (eg rheum, cardiology, etc). 1) Waste of nurse time, dangerous to patient. After verifying ID, phone call launched straight into complicated instructions on taking dMARD (different dosage each week, different combos at diff times of day), with no warning/advice to take notes (too much info to remember). No written patient instructions sent to me, despite requesting them. Drugs also arrived with no instructions: Dangerous! Also a waste of nurse time, since could replace appt with standard instruction letter/video. 2) Seems mostly intended to create (inaccurate) record of informed consent. When I phoned the listed cancellation number to ask what the appt would be for, was told it was a rheum nurse appt to discuss decision to take this dMARD. The eventual letter sent to my GP about phone appt claimed I'd agreed during the appt to take the drug. No. During phone appt, after avalanche of drug-taking instructions, I tried to pause nurse to ask about pros/cons of taking this dMARD. She said she couldn't discuss that, because she wasn't my doctor, and that my doctor was the one who had decided I should take the drug (wasn't discussed at our consultant appt, but had handed me a dMARD leaflet on my way out). Alarming because that particular dMARD is arguably contraindicated in my case, but I have no access to discuss this with the consultant. 3) No space for questions about adverse effects. She listed 3 side effects, none of which were the most common ones, but had no answers to my question about the most common side effect listed in my leaflet (which was a symptom I already suffered). When I asked about previously stopping NSAIDs due to this side effect (and with no med advice available), she acted like this was an act of non-compliance. 4) Adds extreme delay onto treatment start (was told my 11+ week wait for phone appt was typical). In my case this meant: -36+ weeks from referral to first CUH rheum appt (30 mins), despite active disease and abnormal rheum blood test results prior to appt; -16+ more weeks until 2nd CUH rheumatology appt (15 mins), no treatment in meantime besides NSAIDs which I had to stop; -11+ weeks from 2nd rheum appt until this nurse phone call appt, when a letter would have been clearer, safer, and faster. -3 weeks from nurse appt to receiving meds, despite getting baseline blood test done on the day test order forms were received, and had bloods results back in <24 hrs. In summary, this policy added 14 wks onto start of treatment time, and with no written patient instructions. But! I don't even know whether it's safe to start this drug, so instead have to wait indefinite months for next consultant appt (if ever even scheduled).
Visited Rheumatology on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 04 January 2023
Dear patient Thank you for giving detailed feedback about your appointment, and I am very sorry to hear about your concerns. We would be pleased to look into these issues and respond to you personally - please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01223 216756 or email cuh.pals@nhs.net so that we can identify you and provide some help. Once again, I am sorry to read about your experience. Head of Patient Experience
-
Review titled Fantastic staff
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Denise Adams - Posted on 02 December 2022
I was recalled to the breast unit following a mammogram. I found the staff to be thorough, helpful and caring. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the unit.
Visited Breast cancer services on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 05 December 2022
Dear Denise Adams Thank you for sharing your positive report about your care at the Breast Unit. We are pleased to hear that you found the staff to be so professional - your kind words will be passed to the staff and will be much appreciated. Thank you again. Patient Advice and Liaison Service cuh.pals@nhs.net
-
Review titled Really Impressed
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Hannah - Posted on 22 November 2022
We had been on the waiting list for our sons surgery for a few months, we received a call about a cancellation on the Monday for the following day and snapped up the appointment. I can’t fault the service we received. The staff were professional and friendly at all times, keeping us in the loop and giving our son the best care possible. The staff that anaesthetised him were lovely, they made me feel totally at ease and kept my one year old calm before his operation. The surgery was a success - with the surgeon taking her time, which we appreciated and keeping us filled in at every turn. The care afterwards was faultless and the added extra of the play team was fantastic. A long day for us parents, that could have been full of anxiety but instead was totally worth while and we were really impressed. We don’t pay these people enough for the job they do and the care they give. Thank you all!
Visited Children's & Adolescent Services on November 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 20 December 2022
Dear Hannah Thank you very much for your positive review. It is great to hear that the staff were professional and friendly and that you and your son felt reassured throughout the process. Your kind words and thanks will be passed to the paediatric surgery team and the play therapists, and will be much appreciated. Thank you again. Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) cuh.pals@nhs.net
-
Review titled Useless
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 20 October 2022
I had waiting 9 hours to be seen by doctor,i had lots pain,sitting on chair other senario,i want to ask all staff of the Nhs even manager veo doctor,would u seat those chairs 3 4 hours than u will 8 dersta d,we like to support u ,we like to respect you but you have to show same things against us,
Visited Accident and emergency services on October 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 21 October 2022
Dear patient I am very sorry to hear that you were waiting a very long time to see a doctor, and that you were in pain. I'm not sure where you were waiting, but if this was the Emergency Department, unfortunately the waits can be long at busy times. The staff do all they can to see patients as quickly as possible, but unfortunately patients will less urgent conditions do sometimes have to wait. Please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01223 216756 or email pals@addenbrookes.nhs.uk if you would like us to look into your experience in more detail. Sorry once again for your long wait. Head of Patient Experience
-
Review titled My experience in gynecology
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Teresa Kim - Posted on 27 October 2022
I had hysterectomy 2 weeks ago,the doctors and nurses looked after me were professional,caring and reassuring. I was given great care. I'd like to say thank you to all the staffs of the units.
Visited Gynaecology on October 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 31 October 2022
Dear Ms Kim Thank you very much for telling us about the caring and professional care you received when you had your operation. Your kind words and thanks will be passed to staff involved and will be greatly appreciated. We hope you are recovering well, and thank you again. Patient Advice and Liaison Service pals@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
-
Review titled Poor Communication
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Richard Rayner - Posted on 17 October 2022
My mother has been in hospital for 17 days. Despite calling and speak to nurse, I am unable to find out information. I have spoken with the nurses many times in the last 2 weeks to request a call from the doctor but still no call. I am at a loss what to do at such a difficult time.
Visited Orthopaedics on October 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 18 October 2022
Dear Mr Rayner I am very sorry to hear that you have not been able to get the information you need at a difficult time. Although staff are often very busy, they should try to keep key family members updated, with the patient's consent. You could ask to speak to the ward manager next time you call the ward, as a senior staff member may be able to help. Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01223 216756 or email pals@addenbrookes.nhs.uk and the team will try to assist. Head of Patient Experience
-
Review titled Wonderful Care
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 09 October 2022
The doctors and nurses looking after my relative were amazing. So caring and thoughtful for us as a family as well as the patient. However, the parking at Addenbrookes is extremely expensive making visiting difficult. At more than £20/day, this is ridiculous on top of the fact that many people travel a great distance to this specialist hospital. I would like to have visited more but the cost of parking makes this prohibitive. I really feels this needs to be addressed.
Visited Intensive Care on October 2022
Review titled Addenbrooke's
Replied on 10 October 2022
Thank you for your kind words about the staff looking after your relative - it is good to hear that you were all treated well. With respect to car parking charges, there are concessions available for frequent visitors: currently £22.50 for up to seven days, or £37.50 for up to 14 days. It is also free to park at the park and ride sites near Cambridge. Buses to the hospital site bus stop are frequent and cost £2.50. More information about ways to get to the hospital are on our website https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/visiting-our-hospitals/travel-and-parking/ Patient Advice and Liaison Service pals@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Information supplied by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust