"Amazing Ward and Staff"

I was admitted a few weekends ago with a horrible pneumonia. After waiting several hours for someone at out of hours to call me back and be seen, I was asked to attend Ward 4 in Perth Royal Infirmary. 

On arrival it was clear they were extremely busy and unfortunately a bed wasn’t ready for me. Not unexpected maybe for a Saturday night in a stretched NHS hospital nowadays? Despite this the team were very attentive and Nurse Emma came and apologised for my wait and took my blood pressure. She was very kind with me and let me know a bed would be available soon keeping me updated along the way. 

Whilst I was waiting for a bed to be available a  doctor came and asked if he could have a conversation with me in the family room so he could start looking into whatever investigations I needed. (Sorry I can’t remember your name.) again he was so apologetic and explained what would happen in the first few hours of my admission. As this was round the corner from the main ward one of the nursing assistants stayed with me to make sure I was ok think his name was Scott? (Who got me the best cup of tea! Thank you so much for this. A tonic itself!). 

I watched - in my line of work I’m trained to sit, and watch and listen…I watched as this ward got busier and busier and busier - still with no beds!. I watched as these amazing doctors and nurses did all they could to look after their patients in a whirlwind of activity.

I watched teamwork shine bright… the nursing assistants working together to make sure the patient who was muddled in the side ward got extra help, the pregnant nurse (Alex! in awe of you!) running around supporting her team, the nurse Laura? Louise? asking the doctor if he had stopped to have something to eat as he was looking weary!

The nurse manager Rachael coming to the ward and getting stuck right in, trying to keep the team spirit up with a sympathetic smile and taking the time to come and speak to each of us sitting waiting for a bed and apologise for our wait. Lovely Nurse Sophie who ended up being my nurse for the night and was so caring and attentive. You were amazing! 

I watched the Consultant Dr Henderson who was like a ping pong ball, darting back and forth seeing patients, supporting his doctors and working with Alex to make sure all the patients had been seen. I watched the porters …. back and forth and back and forth moving patients, the domestic working like a trojan to help clean rooms. I watched the night team arriving and swooping straight in to support their colleagues who were on their knees. It really was a marvel to watch them all. So extremely busy, but a sense of underlying calm and control at the same time! 

There is always so much negativity in the press about the NHS but what I experienced that Saturday was a well oiled machine, everyone working together to make sure us patients were looked after on a crazy busy ward. Despite the business, we were your top priority and I wanted to write to make sure everyone heard how amazing you really are! I take my hat off to you ward 4! You really all are a credit to the NHS.