A RETIRED teacher said his negative perception of Furness General Hospital 'completely changed' after receiving 'outstanding' care following a heart attack.

Adrian Spakouskas began experiencing chest pains on Friday night whilst holidaying in his caravan in Windermere,

The 74-year-old was concerned the pains may be sinister after suffering a heart attack ago 22 years prior.

The retired teacher, who lives in Warrington, was reluctant to visit the nearest hospital to Windermere - Furness General Hospital - due to the 'bad publicity' it had received over the years.

However, his wife convinced him to attend the emergency department on Saturday morning where his preconceptions were entirely debunked.

He said: "To be perfectly honest, when we were close to hospital and about to go into the emergency department, I was very aware of these negative feelings about the hospital in my head.

"But as soon as I walked through the door, I was greeted by smiling and efficient staff members.

"I was met by a triage nurse who was very pleasant then another half a dozen people were surrounding my bed in the admissions unit.

"It just hit me straight away - all these people helping me are smiling and happy and I thought this is brilliant.

"It felt like what a hospital should be like."

Mr Spakouskas said his negative perception of the hospital was 'completely changed' as soon as he walked through the door.

He said: "Throughout triage and admission I was all but overwhelmed by the friendship that grew out of smiling faces and caring hands. I felt the warmth and with it my anxiety and fears melted away.

"From that moment on, I was surrounded by a host of blue angels; everybody was friendly and compassionate, efficient and competent. From the girls and boys with general tasks right through to the upper echelons of management, everybody made me feel privileged to be in their company."

Mr Spakouskas was treated at the hospital for five days where he received the 'excellent' care.

He said: "If I had a choice to go to hospital again, I would chose Barrow.

"I can’t give these wonderful people the rewards their employers – the government – should bestow on them, but what I hope to do is make you the general public aware of their wonderful hospital, made so by its fabulous staff.

"Thankyou from the bottom of the heart you helped to fix."