"A huge thank you on the NHS’s 75th Anniversary"

A huge thank you on the NHS’s 75th Anniversary to all the people in NHS Lothian who’ve made sure I can see and hear again, have kept me from going off my legs, and got me safely through five years of cancer diagnoses, treatments and follow ups. I’ve now met about 150 NHS folk in four hospitals and the Cancer Centre - pre-Covid, during COVID and post COVID, ranging from

•cleaners to clinicians,

•pre op nurses to physios

•radiographers to registrars

•chaperones to caterers

•anaesthetists to audiologists – I could go on….. …..but I’m sure you’ll get the picture…..

And thanks too, to all those other people behind the scenes who I’ll never meet – radiologists, pathologists, Multi Disciplinary Team members, medical secretaries, E-health and waiting list people, physicists etc etc etc… And apologies to those of you whose names I didn’t get as often no time for introductions and those wee name badges are pretty hard to read!

You’ve all been so kind, efficient, good at your job, helpful, patient, informative and understanding and def went and continue to go to endless trouble to make me feel as OK as I can be. Even though it’s very apparent most of you are under such a lot of pressure – time, staff shortages, funding, meeting targets, and endless squads of people like me – often scared out of our wits – and maybe sometimes not on our best party manners!

It's very impressive and sometimes quite overwhelming that you all made and continue to make me feel that I’m the most important patient you’ve seen that day. Thank you all so much for keeping me going – so much appreciated. And special thanks but in no particular order to:

@ the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

The receptionists and team in Clinical Radiology – the only names I took in were Zoe, Gordon and Ian but you were all lovely and clearly well aware that I, and everyone else going for scans, were terrified out of our wits! Marion, Pre-op Assessment, Robin and the kindly receptionist @ ECG, Oncology, Surgeon Dr Fegan and his team including Dr Richardson, Anaesthetist, Dr McCallum, and then Student Nurse Louise, Nurse Catherine on the ward and the anonymous porter who wheelchaired me down to Patient Transport on my way home.

@ the Western General Hospital Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Cancer Centre (ECC)

Julie, sonographer, Clinical Radiography, all the lovely receptionists at the ECC, Dr Zahra and team including all those kindly chaperones, Radiographer Linda and team, Claire and Jo, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Anna, Specialist Physiotherapist. And the gardeners who keep the planters and flower beds spic and span and so cheery and welcoming.

I believe you all definitely deserve the long promised new Edinburgh Cancer Centre, so I do hope you won’t have to wait aeons for it to be up and running at the Western. I’ll def keep on pressing for it to become a reality!

@ The Smart Centre, Astley Ainslie Hospital & Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

Orthoticist Gary, for his expertise, efficiency and kindness and for keeping me from going off my legs

@ The Blue Practice, Stockbridge Health Centre

Dr Twiddy, who saw me through some very dark days

@ Audiology, Lauriston Place

the receptionists who patiently field my inquiries about how long I’ll have to wait for my appointments, the technicians who keep my hearing aids fit and well and the audiologists who make sure I can hear again.

@ the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion

Dr Madill for sorting out both my eyes and all the other members of his Cataract Surgery Teams. Staff Nurse Elaine – who was extra kind, helpful and patient with all my questions and concerns, Joanna for getting me a cosy blanket when I started chittering in the freezing waiting area on Floor 5 before my first op – and yes, I know that there’s not a lot anyone can do about that cold air …. the cheery lady with her lovely smile and very welcome trolley and cups of tea, biscuits and sandwiches post op, the kind and reassuring people who do the eye tests, photographs, BP and other pre op checks and, to Dr Armbrecht for referring me for a cataract assessment in the first place.

I believe you all definitely deserve your long promised, custom built, more user friendly work place, so I do hope you won’t have to wait yet more aeons for the new Eye Hospital to be up and running at Little France. And, yes, I’ll def keep on pressing for this too to become a reality..

And finally you and your colleagues epitomise the founding spirit and values of the NHS. Thank you all so much. If I had the power, I’d award you all gold medals and everything else you need to continue working the way you do, and recognition and appreciation of all you do for me and all the other NHS patients in Scotland.