Brotherton Wing, Leeds

It’s unfortunate that I have the knowledge to enable me to write this review, but I do, so I feel I want to share my experience. After frequent visits to my local hospital I felt the care I received and the opinions given to me was not adequate so I made the decision o be put on a waiting list by my doctor to attend Leeds General Infirmary.

The hospital is very large and made up of several different buildings with differing specialities. My appointments were alwats based in the Jubilee Wing or the Brotherton Wing.

The Buildings

Both buildings are extremely large but not in an intimidating way. They have frequent and clear signs all around the building to show visitors and patients exactly where to go. Although large, there is access to several large lifts close to the entrance, and a very large reception area manned by several people willing to point you in the right direction. On all my visits to the building I have never encountered a queue or felt it to be busy in the slightest. On entrance there is a large Costa Coffee shop, toilets, a newsagent style shop and a comfortable seating area.

Cleanliness

From the toilets to the wards, the lifts to the waiting areas, everything was spotlessly clean. I can get a bit paranoid at the slightest hint of dirt (or worse!) in a hospital but I was perfectly confident here that cleanliness was a main priority, and this I feel is a massive boost to a patient/visitors confidence. It implies care and efficiency of the hospital.

Staff

A major factor when evaluating a hospital is the staff. This is no exaggeration, but every single member of staff I have come in to contact with at this place has been extraordinary and a credit to their profession. Nurses and doctors have been professional yet friendly and approachable. They seem to genuinely care for their patients and give the impression they are friendly and communicate well with each other too. They give the impression of being a kind of community rather than working individually.
The receptionists were also great. They didn’t give the impression that they were far too busy to answer a simple question, as I have often found. They seem enthusiastic and happy to help. Even the cleaners and security guards were wandering round with a smile on their face. Strange for a hospital, yes, but nice!

=accessibility===

As mentioned, the wings are extremely large. The Jubilee wing luckily has lifts quite close to the entrance to take people to their relevant floorts, although there can be a good walk to twhere they want to nbe.
The Brotherton Wing is located over a glassed walkway and then there is a substantial corridor to journey along before a reception area is reached. For anyone with walking difficulties it is worth bearing this in mind!
Outside the wing it is very difficult to park. The hospital is right in the centre of Leeds which is also famed for its difficult parking. There is no car parking available in the grounds directly outside the hospital but there are several pay and display car parks nearby. There is a small multi-storey located opposite the wings where I have always managed to find a space. It’s quite expensive - £5.60 for up to 4 hours and £11 for up to 6 hours.
Being so central holds this disadvantage but also has the advantage of being accessible(via a short taxi ride perhaps) from public transport stations and there is a bus stop right outside.

Overall

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No hospital is a wonderful place, but asd far as they go, this is the best I’ve come across. All aspects have left me with great confidence of this place and the great staff that make it. I have to attend hospital several times to receive certain medication and although this one is an hours drive from my home it is worth it!