"Kindness and support nothing short of outstanding"

I contacted Wishaw EPAS completely distraught after being advised by another EPAS unit that my baby hadn’t grown as hoped and I would need to proceed with medical management.

My call was answered within a few rings and from there on in the service, support and kindness I was shown was nothing short of outstanding.

Tracey comforted me on the phone, took the time to explain what was happening to me, what my options were and what the next steps would be. The empathy shown by Tracey was like nothing I had experienced before in EPAS or the whole of the NHS, and I have unfortunately been a patient of EPAS on 3 other heart breaking occasions albeit another trust.

The EPAS ward/department is a relaxed, warm experience. All the nurses I spoke with were kind and empathetic to what I was going through. Little things like the TV playing in the waiting room helped drown out my thoughts instead of the deadly silence I have experienced in other EPAS units – some even have signs telling you to be quiet and not talk.

I also noticed a basket sitting with seeds for you to take home which was a beautiful touch and removed the usual clinical setting of a hospital.

The way the nurses spoke to each other and other patients was supportive and caring, it was as if nothing was too much bother, and they were understanding of the situation patients found themselves in. I have sat in other wards, and you can hear nurses cackling when you're going through one of the most horrific experiences of your life.

My only feedback (and this is the same for most units/wards) is that you can overhear very private and personal conversations when sitting in the rooms - not that we were purposely trying to listen to other patients' personal information.

Dealing with a miscarriage is a deeply traumatic and devastating experience but the contrast of care I received from Tracey and Wishaw EPAS was night and day from the previous hospital attended. Tracey called me back when promised, ensured I understood everything along the way and would happily pause and comfort me without a thought when I got upset on the phone. Tracey even gave me a cuddle which is the first time I have been shown such compassion by anyone in the NHS.

I honestly believe that Tracey was my real-life angel. She is a fantastic human being and exactly the type of person the NHS should be proud to have on the front line.