"Excellent care"

Last year my dad required an emergency admission to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).

From the moment we made contact with health services, the care my dad received from everyone was amazing.  

As he was so unwell my dad required an ambulance to admit him from home.  We were informed from the initial call that there would be a delay for this.  As this was the case a rapid response paramedic was sent to his house to assess him.  This paramedic was very professional, so caring and confirmed my dad required admission and made sure we understood that if he deteriorated further we were to call emergency services back.

Once the ambulance arrived, the staff were caring and professional, and again advised that once we reached Aberdeen there would be a further delay with admitting my dad.  In total, from the initial call it took 12 hours for dad to be admitted to the Acute Receiving Unit, at no point during this time though did we feel like we were forgotten about or that staff weren't doing everything they could to get this to happen.  Whilst in 'cohorting' a doctor in the Emergency Department noted my dads medical history and reason for admission and came to ARU to take bloods tests and start treatment.

Once admitted, the care continued to be exceptional.  In total my dad spent 7 weeks in ARI, mainly in ward 108 and then another 2 weeks in Glen O' Dee Hospital for rehab and recovery.

From the cleaner, who always made sure he popped his head in to say hello, to the doctors coordinating treatment between two specialties, the staff are a credit to NHS Grampian, particularly when working with significant demand and understaffing.  However there were some people in particular who really made a difference to my dad, treating him more like a cared for family member than a patient.

Healthcare Support Workers in Ward 108 Megan and Natasha both left a lasting impression on my dad.  Megan in particular he noted worked so hard, never complaining or making him feel like a nuisance and when caring for him was gentle and efficient, we hope that Megan sees this and realises what a difference she made to his care.

Nurses, Neelima, Frances, Kali and Claire, again these people did their jobs and did them well, but they also cared.  

Then dad was transferred to Glen O' Dee Hospital for a short stay to recover and rehab, the staff here were supportive, kind and caring again, dad really benefitted from this time to work on his mobility and reduce his frailty.  His end goal was to get back home and he has now done this!

To everyone at NHS Grampian, particularly those above, you do make a difference, you are valued and thank you from my dad, and his whole family.