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I genuinely think it helped set my dad up for a good recover...

Posted By Holly23

"I genuinely think it helped set my dad up for a good recovery"

About: General Practices in NHS Highland Ninewells Hospital / Intensive Care Unit Ninewells Hospital / Oral Surgery & Medicine Raigmore Hospital / Dental Raigmore Hospital / Oral Surgery & Medicine

(as a relative),

My dad found a lump in his mouth and I immediately got him to call his GP surgery, we were given wonderful guidance and told he’d need to see his dentist. As he wears dentures he doesn’t have one, so was referred to call the dental department at Raigmore who had him in to see him within an hour. His doctor known as Dr Reddy (that’s not his given name, I’m afraid I don’t know how to spell this) was wonderful and the next day he was back in to see the specialist from Ninewells, Dr Shekar. A biopsy was done and we were told to consider it cancer. A provisional date was set there and then for surgery at Ninewells.

Skip forward a few weeks and we’re at Ninewells mid Jan, a month to the day from first meeting Dr Shekar. Dr Shekar, nurse Claire and their incredible team of 17 worked tirelessly on my dad through a grueling 10 hour surgery where he had his lump removed, part of his tongue and a shaving off his jaw. They removed lymph nodes from his neck, did a cell transplant from his arm and skin graft from his stomach. Plus fitted implants for future related dental work. I cannot speak more highly, or express our gratitude for all of these people and their work. 

After his surgery he was omitted to ICU where he had the most incredible nurse, Helen. She gave him such wonderful care and attention I genuinely think it helped set my dad up for a good recovery. She spent so much time nurturing him, chatting and boosting his spirits. Alongside another excellent nurse, Patrick who really did a great job joking with my dad to give him a smile. These nurses have such a difficult job looking after patients like my dad at their most vulnerable moments. Helen not only helped my dad, but put us at such ease and helped relieve the deepest worries and anxieties we had about his progress. 

Helen really took a special interest in my dad, talking at lengths about his hobbies, talking about horse racing and looking at photos of his dogs. This warmth was incredible, and helped him settle at an incredibly traumatic and difficult time. There aren’t words to express my gratitude for this. 

He’s now back on ward 26 at the Oral and Maxillofacial department where all of the staff have continued to be wonderful and attentive. 

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Responses

Response from Fiona Duncan, ICU Liaison Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, NHS Tayside 2 years ago
Fiona Duncan
ICU Liaison Nurse, Intensive Care Unit,
NHS Tayside

Submitted on 25/01/2023 at 13:41
Published on Care Opinion at 14:05

Dear Holly23

As a member of the ICU Recovery Service team Ninewells, I have been informed of the feedback you have submitted through care opinion.

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback in relation to your experience. The views of our service users are extremely important to our staff. Your feedback enables the team to further understand the experience from a patient and relatives' perspective which can be used to continue to deliver aspects of care that have been identified as positive and, where necessary, explore where improvements can be made.

I am sorry hear of the challenges that your dad has had with his health and that he required a long and complex surgical procedure followed by an admission to the Intensive Care Unit.

Thank you for highlighting the "wonderful" care he received from his nurse Helen while in ICU. You have also written that you feel the care he received prepared him to commence his recovery and that Helen had supported his emotional health during his admission. It is widely recognised that physical and emotional health are both of importance while in ICU and while recovering from an admission to a critical care area. Thank you for recognising both these aspects were delivered during your experience and that a personal approach was used as Helen listened to your dad and they talked about his hobbies and dogs and in doing so lifted his spirits.

It is positive to read that Helen was also able to support you through this anxious and worrying time and lessen these feelings of concern during such a challenging time. Having a loved one in Intensive care can be challenging and raise feelings such as those you mentioned. The staff endeavour to also support you during your loved one's time in the ICU and thank you for informing us that this made a difference to you.

Thank you also for your comments in regard to Patrick and the positive impact that he made.

The feedback that you have given in relation to Helen and Patrick has been shared directly with them and they would both like to thank you for taking the time to share your thanks for the care your Dad received.

Thank you for taking the time to inform the team of your gratitude in such a comprehensive way. This feedback is greatly appreciated, especially when you have advised that your dad is still in the early stages of his recovery and continuing to receive inpatient care.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish your Dad all the best with his ongoing recovery.

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Response from Kate MacLennan, Communications Co-ordinator, Communications and Engagement, NHS Highland 2 years ago
Kate MacLennan
Communications Co-ordinator, Communications and Engagement,
NHS Highland

Submitted on 02/02/2023 at 18:32
Published on Care Opinion on 03/02/2023 at 08:38

Thank you so much for your feedback. I'm so glad that your experience of our Dr Reddy in Raigmore was "wonderful" - I will pass on your feedback, thank you. Best regards to you and your Dad.

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
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