"The exceptional nursing care of my dad"

My very frail 87 year old dad has been on Ward 3a at Kilmarnock's Crosshouse Hospital for the past 10+ days.  His wife of 60 years and my mum died about 6 weeks ago, so it's been a really tough time for us all, but especially my dad, as you can imagine.

Knowing that your elderly, vulnerable parent is receiving the very best care in hospital is, of course, fundamentally important, but when you live as far a away as I do, and so can't see my dad as much as much as I would like, it seems to take on even greater significance.

I'm just back from spending a very hot, airless, physically uncomfortable weekend in Ward 3a, but in the midst of all that had the absolute joy of witnessing outstanding care of my dad from the whole ward team, but especially from 2 members of the nursing staff: Neve (Nieve/Niamh)) and student nurse Walter. I work as a hospital chaplain in a large NHS Trust, so know only too well the pressures and challenges NHS staff work under. I also see truly wonderful examples of those same staff going way above and beyond in their care of their patients and their patients families.  This is what I witnessed in spade loads with Walter and Neve.  The warmth, empathy, humour, thoughtfulness and gentleness with my dad, and also with me, was, quite honestly, breath-taking. They kept plying my dad and me with bottles of chilled water, offered us both ice lollies, and on my first afternoon there, Walter even ordered an extra meal for me to have with my dad, knowing I had just had a 6 hours car journey in the heat to be there. It was especially moving for me to see how Walter appropriately and with tenderness and compassion, stroked my dad's shoulders, arms, hands. Gave him gentle hugs. 

So, thank you, Wonderful Walter and Nice Neve (as my dad called her!), and to the whole team on Ward 3a at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock.