Darent Valley Hospital

There was one wild weekend with a bunch of drugs, needles and blacking out for three hours, which I have still no idea what happened. I even have junkie needle marks up my arm. Ok. I lied. I had my appendix removed and hospital isn’t fun because getting blood out of my veins is pretty fucking difficult. But my first story sounds so much cooler. But I’m much better now!
So, don’t know how to write a review for a hospital, especially not that I visited– more admitted. I mean, can’t give it 5 stars because I didn’t really like it that much nor am i a four star fan. But the staff were lovely and I was ALWAYS suitably dosed up against the pain, morphine, paracetemol, codeine and ibruprofen, they have it all. (I’d be super worried if they didn’t have it all)
I was admitted for appendectomy through A&E which gave quite an accurate estimate of wait time, like 3 hours, and within 3 hours, they had made the decision to admit me into a ward for appendix surgery the next day. can’t really comment on the surgery, was out of it — which means the anaesthetic works. (another plus point– you know you’re getting the good gas…)
Visiting hours are pretty much not enforced upon which cuz my mother could pop by anytime and my friends overstayed the visiting hours and they still weren’t kicked out, which makes for a pretty relaxed atmosphere. Also they don’t have a go at you for bringing nandos in because they don’t blame you for skipping their food. (although the food lady was nice– always tried to make it presentable!)
Also, checking in on Unilocal to a hospital makes so much easier to explain and start conversations with friends who you should tell but don’t really know how to say ‘sooo im in hospital but I’m okay…’

So it’s a hospital. You know, bog standard hospital. Pretty well signposted as you come off the A2 and it’s five minutes from Bluewater which makes it perfect if you want to stop off and get some Nandos chicken for instance because the person you’re visiting hasn’t eaten in five days and can’t take another mouthful of ‘mashed carrots’. Just a hypothetical example of course.
It’s pretty easy to navigate inside and the staff don’t seem to care why you’re there or how long you’re there for. Visiting hours (and this is the main motivation for my review, to let people know) were supposed to be 2pm — 4pm but we were there until gone 5pm and no one said anything, despite nurses popping in and out to refill water.
The parking charges are SO unlike any other hospital though. £1 an hour, WHAT? Is that IT?! It’s almost worth parking in the hospital and trekking it into Dartford to do some shopping. Crazy.
They have a lot of shops in reception. Like three, selling everything from clothes to weird stuffed animals to bags of chocolate, which can’t be good for patients surely, but as I’ve said, with Bluewater literally around the corner just drive there, park for free and pick up whatever you want.