"My beloved father"

My father was admitted as an emergency via ambulance, very unwell with covid. Firstly to the ambulance staff, thank you for saving and protecting my dad to get him the to the vital care he needed. The totally amazing Dr's and nursing staff on shift that day in the emergency department, managed to save my beloved dad and give us as a family important precious days to prepare for a beautiful death surrounded by his loving family. Due to emotions at that time I did not remember peoples names. A female Dr spoke to me about dad. Please express my sincere gratitude to the staff on shift that day. You gave us the most precious gift and probably don't even realise how amazing your work was that day.

Dad was then moved to ward 14 for a few days. Again the nursing staff were amazing, gentle, kind and professional, my wee dad felt safe in your care. To SCN in ward 14 please thank your nursing staff from my family they are a credit to your ward. Sorry again I don't remember names, but you looked after my dad from late on 8th of march till the 10th march. However I spoke to Dr McCann, Dr Yates, Dr McBean and Dr Reid. All of you helped me prepare so gently for dads passing. You gauged my reactions and what you thought was the best and most honest way to let us as a family know, dad may not survive this illness. You did it with such professionalism, kindness and care and I cannot thank you enough for your gentle kind manner. I knew you all would set up the care plan to ensure dad was so comfortable and cared for in his final days. Along with the nursing staff you brought the best versions of yourselves to look after and our wee dad Bill.

Finally to the staff of ward 20. Words cannot fully express what you did for us as a family from the 10th-14th march. You let us stay night and day with dad, till he passed. "Wee Bill" was surrounded by care, comfort and compassion, tears, laughter and music. But you not only looked after dad you looked after myself and 5 other brothers and sisters who all spent time with dad. Nothing was too much bother for you all, you are all truly the best of nursing.

So thankyou

Pauline and Shirley

Jastyna

Janet and Linda

Jennifer

Catorina

Amanda and Lesley

Sinsai.

A special thankyou to Nadia, we got to know you over the first few nights well, you are a born nurse, care and compassion shine through you.

And Sandra you allowed me the special gift as a fellow nurse to help you, to do the last thing I could for my beloved dad his last offices. I am a total daddy's girl and this gift was so precious to me.

We go along in life on wards, ER and outpatients, doing our jobs and sometimes we need to stop and think when chaos and stress are all around us, when we feel we achieve nothing and what is the point of it all! That so many families like mine watch you and think I am grateful you are here, I am grateful for the care you give to your patients and families every day. We matter because you show us how much you care.

My dad had the best most beautiful passing because each of you cared. There is no words to express our gratitude as a family, but we send you all our love and thanks to keep giving your best, because it matters more than you will ever know.

With loving thanks