We know that coming into hospital can be a challenging and daunting time for many patients and that good quality, reliable information is invaluable in helping you prepare for a procedure or simply to understand our hospitals.
Because of that, we have put together first-person accounts by patients for patients. This way, you can read about what to expect from someone who has been through it before you – someone who knows the anxieties and questions you might be dealing with. You can choose which story to read from the lists below.
Our patient's stories look at all aspects of the journey you may have when visiting one of our hospitals; from when you arrive to your treatment and what happens after.
If you would like to share your story, you can contact us.
These stories look at what happens when you first arrive at hospital and what you might expect
Looking at what happens when you come in for a sleep study at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Amanda Brown talks about what she experienced coming into Royal Brompton Hospital as an asthma patient
Asthma tests (coming in for the difficult asthma protocol)
Emma Bearfoot stayed at Royal Brompton Hospital for a series of asthma tests and talks about what happened to her.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) check
Find out from a previous Royal Brompton patient about their experience on sleep study.
Penelope's story looks at how a new ICD device fitted allowed her to have MRI scans more easily.
Find out what happened when Paul came to Royal Brompton Hospital and had open heart surgery
Susan talks about her experience being a long-term patient at Harefield Hospital
Joshua's mum, Suzy, talks about what happened to Joshua as a paediatric patient at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Alexander talks about his time as a patient at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Renee talks about her experience, and how her family are now treated at the same hospital as well.
Caroline talks about the care she has received as a patient at Harefield Hospital.
Graham reflects on his time as a cardiac transplant patient at Harefield Hospital.
Kelvin talks about being a patient at Harefield Hospital and part of the cardiac rehabilitation programme.
Tracie reflects on the care she's received at Royal Brompton Hospital since she was a baby.
Read how a small procedure at Harefield Hospital allowed Paul to carry on with his passions.
Nick talks about how his cardiac condition has been treated at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Donna reflects on her the journey that brought her to Harefield Hospital as a transplant patient.
Robert talks about his experience at Harefield Hospital.
Lucien talks about his cardiac condition being treated using a new keyhole surgery technique.
Sarah explains about her journey with her heart condition and how Royal Brompton has continually looked after her.
Phil talks about his experience on a study at Royal Brompton Hospital.
John reflects on his time as a participant in a study at Royal Brompton Hospital.
David talks about the treatment he received as a respiratory patient.
Sharon talks about her experience having a double lung transplant at Harefield Hospital.
Gordon reflects on the treatment he received for coughing and breathlessness at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Take a look how Kirstie's journey to receiving a new set of lungs at Harefield Hospital.
Jenny talks about participating in the pulmonary rehabilitation service.
Maddie's parents talk about their journey with their daughter's cystic fibrosis diagnosis.
Helen talks about her experience as a patient at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Alex talks about his lifelong experience living with cystic fibrosis.
James, a cystic fibrosis patient, reflects on his experience waiting for a lung transplant.
Sally-Anne talks about her experience at Harefield Hospital as lung transplant patient.
Jason talks about his journey living with severe asthma.
Tanya looks back on her experience at Royal Brompton Hospital.
A look at the journey that brought Rebecca to Royal Brompton Hospital.
King-Elyon's mum, Shelley talks about their experience at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Ruth talks about their experience with the children's long-term ventilation service at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Sam's mother talks about their experience with the specialist children's sleep centre at Royal Brompton Hospital.
A look at how Royal Brompton Hospital provides long-term care to paediatric patients.
Paula's journey dealing with cystic fibrosis and then being a transplant patient.
Freddie's mother, Trudy, talks about the hope she felt when her son was admitted as a patient to Royal Brompton Hospital.
Looking at how a family has been cared for by staff at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Stephanie's experience of being looked after at Harefield Hospital.
Nathan talks about his experience transitioning from the hospital's children's services to its adult services.
Henry talks about his experience being cared for by Royal Brompton Hospital.
His mother, Charlotte, talks about their experience of her son's care at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Sophie talks about her experience transitioning from the children's services to the adult services at the hospital.
His mother, Libby, talks about the expert care that her son has received at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Amber's mother, Ali, talks about their experience with the paediatric cardiology team at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Samuel's mother, Wai, talks about their journey with Royal Brompton and how they have helped Samuel with his heart condition.
“I felt that radiofrequency ablation was a good option for me and I was reassured by Harefield’s reputation in this specialist area and the good success rates achieved for the treatment. The whole team involved in my care – from the nurses to the anaesthetist, doctors and support staff – were fantastic. They were extremely empathetic and explained everything to me in great detail.”
"Life has got back to normal and I can't thank Royal Brompton enough... for what they have done for me. There are not enough superlatives in the English language that adequately describe what great work they do."
"Royal Brompton has made what can be a frightening and daunting experience - surgery and the management of cancer- manageable through their expertise and thorough kind treatment. I feel very lucky to have The Royal Brompton and their wonderful doctors helping me to fight my cancer."
"Since the second and third sessions of cryosurgery my quality of life has returned to at least 80 per cent of what it was. I owe my life to Mr Maiwand and his team, and I would like to express my thanks to them all."
"It is an incredible feeling to hand yourself over to such expert professionals with a feeling of relief that at last something is being done."