1st interview

[Dogbot]

Can anyone tell me I’m going for my first interview with the panel at Kings College will they give me any answers then as to going on to the next interview or I won’t be accepted?

[Paulwil]

Hi Olly,

I had my transplant at Kings. Have you been referred to Kings by another hospital?

I was referred by Southmead in Bristol. My visit to Kings was for the assessment which takes a few days.

[Dogbot in reply to Paulwil]

Hi I am being referred by my consultant at East Surrey Hospital and was told that my first meeting with the team was only one day?

[Paulwil in reply to Dogbot]

It maybe that my local hospital has a partnership with Kings. A lot of the tests that are required as part of the assessment were done locally.

There is no way that Kings would not do the full assessment on you ultimately. There is not a test to see whether they will assess you or not.

I would presume that your first meeting is to explain what is involved in a transplant both pre and post.

The actual assessment is up to 4 days. During those there will be lots of blood tests and scans etc. You will meet the team including the surgeon, anaesthetist, various doctors and the transplant coordinators.

There is also a meeting with the social worker where they discuss what support you have after transplant.

It sounds daunting but it's not at all. The staff are very supportive and friendly.

I stayed on Caldecott Road adjacent to Kings with my wife. It was provided by the hospital.

Good luck

Paul

[Dogbot in reply to Paulwil]

Thanks Paulwil my consultant said it’s one day so you must be right it’s to explain about it, also thanks for info about staying up there I was concerned about getting from my house to the hospital for 4 days ta.

[multitask in reply to Paulwil]

My husband was up at Kings from Bristol for the 4 day (turned out to be 3 in the end) assessment and he stayed on Todd Ward the whole time - there was never any mention of him staying off-site. I couldn't stay the whole time because of the kids, but stayed a couple of nights with a friend of the family fairly nearby. We both found the process quite stressful to be honest. Most of the team were very nice, but the consultant was very gruff and negative and left us both extremely down - bad day perhaps but still not good. He never had a visit from the Social Worker.

Thank god for Katharine at Southmead who always has time to discuss things, and work out the best plan of action. She is a gem.

[Paulwil in reply to multitask]

Sorry to hear you had a bad time at Kings. I also thought Katherine at Southmead was great.

[multitask in reply to Paulwil]

Hi Paul

I see you had the transplant. I wonder how things have turned out? My husband is nervous and a little unsure if it is the answer, even tho he has been accepted in theory. It is a daunting prospect after all.

[Paulwil in reply to multitask]

Everything has gone really well. I only go to clinic every 4 months at Kings now. The ongoing care could have been transferred to Bristol to but I chose to stay with Kings.

The transplant is certainly a lot to go through both physically and mentally, but it's almost a distant memory.

I certainly think it was the answer. I am fit and well now, I went back to work last spring and have had no time off sick.

Best wishes

Paul