"Demonstrated real kindness, care and professionalism"

I wanted to tell my story as being a health care professional myself it is important for me to share my care and experiences with those that cared for me during my cancer journey last year within the Western General Hospital ward 3 and in the Day surgery unit at Queen Margaret Hospital in Fife.

I was diagnosed at the beginning of last year after a routine bowel screening test which alerted me to have a colonoscopy, I had no symptoms, the colonoscopy showed signs of cancer, from there everything changed, my life, my families life, it truly does make you realise how fragile life is. 

I was told I needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try to beat this cancer, my treatment lasted the entire summer. The side effects from the treatments continue to affect my life and treatment for that is ongoing. 

The treatment and care I received from everyone, nurses, doctors, radiotherapy team, HCSWs, consultants was excellent, they all demonstrated real care, compassion and dedication to their roles which resulted in me feeling better about an awful situation I was in, the chemotherapy and radiotherapy together was hard and many days I told myself I had to keep thinking positive thoughts and endure the pain and discomfort to get through to the other end hopefully to be able to continue to live my life. 

The hardest aspect of it was waiting for test, scan results, and decisions, I felt helpless, lonely and scared. I told myself I needed to be strong but realising that I had fears and anxieties and it was ok not to be the strong one this time! 

We hear in the media about the negatives within the NHS but as a healthcare professional and patient now, I would like to say that I think we have the best healthcare service in the world which remains free at the point of need (I don’t think we fully appreciate what that means )….. when you hear the words  - ‘you have cancer’ it completely changes everything, but to know that we will be looked after and be treated with kindness, care, compassion, dignity and respect and not have to face a financial burden at the end regardless of the outcome of your treatment is so special and we should appreciate how lucky we are to have a wonderful NHS to rely on. 

The care within the cancer centre ward 3 in the Western General hospital and within the Day Surgery Unit @ the Queen Margaret Hospital in Fife was excellent, the staff made me feel welcome from the minute I walked in, they took time to treat me as an individual and demonstrated real kindness, care and professionalism, upholding values of maintaining respect, dignity and compassion which certainly made my stays more manageable and less stressful.  It was the detail to the little things that meant so much, constantly asking if I was comfortable and if I needed anything. Offering pain medication, topping up water when needed and keeping me informed. They did this with every patient. 

THANK YOU  to each and every one of you and keep doing what you’re doing, an amazing job.