"I can't recommend the team involved enough"

My sister, who has a learning disability and is blind, recently attended South Tyrone Hospital to have an endoscopy and flexible carried out. Anyone going for these procedures would probably feel anxious but for her the average level of anxiety could be multiplied tenfold.  She has a phobia about needles so even getting started was extremely stressful and it took a number of attempts to access a vein for the canula. 

The staff in South Tyrone Hospital were amazing, from start to finish.

Nurse Noelle checked her in and provided lots of reassurance and good chat to help set a calm and supportive atmosphere. Nurse Jayne helped prepare her for the procedure and was with her post-op and organised a welcome cup of tea which was well appreciated having fasted from the night before.

The endoscopy nurses, Una and Nikki, carried out the procedures in theatre, including taking blood samples that we had previously been unable to obtain due to anxiety.  Support worker, Geraldine, accompanied her from the ward to the theatre and back and remained throughout the process ensuring all went well. Nurses Carmel and Megan were also present throughout the procedure and, apart from taking care of her medically, they provided lots of praise and encouragement too.

This may seem like a lot of people involved in what some would think is a fairly straightforward process however for my sister it was a huge challenge and involved a lot of fear and anxiety on her part.  Any bad experience would lead to more reluctance in attending future medical appointments so, as her carer, I also needed to have confidence in the staff, that they would respond to her fears appropriately and that the procedure could be carried out successfully, we wouldn't get a second go at this.

I have to say all the staff involved showed huge respect, empathy and caring, they were very patient and gentle throughout the process and even let me stay with her in theatre which was a great bonus for both of us. Despite the difficulties and stress involved, and everyone felt it, when my sister had that cup of tea in her hand she was ecstatic, feeling very proud of herself and enjoying all the compliments from staff about how brave she was. 

I just can't recommend the team involved enough other than to give them, from myself and my sister, a huge THANK YOU 

Nurses