"Ebony Ward Staff - Thank You! So grateful and..."

I'd like to thank all the staff at Ebony Ward, Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford - the nurses, the nursing assistants, the catering staff, the porters and the consultants, the Social Services personnel - and especially the Sister, who runs the ward, for their enormous professionalism, compassion, and kindness to my father (83) , who was admitted just before Christmas 2016, having suffered a stroke on top of pre-existing vascular dementia. He remains on the ward but will very soon move to a dementia nursing care home. I have been hugely impressed by everyone I've met on Ebony Ward; it's a real credit to the NHS, and I've been so moved by what you do, and how well and how kindly you do it.

A week or so ago I attended an assessment meeting at which my father's continuing care needs were evaluated by members from Social Services/Continuing Care and the Sister. The diligence, professionalism and pure humanity in that meeting bowled me over. Thank you all. The Sister- despite the fact that they run a large and hectic geriatric ward - was absolutely on top of my father's case notes, and knew him well - everything - his tics, his condition, his progress, his habits. I found it absolutely inspiring. Thank you so much. You are a breathtaking advertisement for the preciousness of the NHS.

I hope very much that when he moves to a care home my father will receive the same compassion and kindness he's been shown in Darent Valley. You will all be a very hard act to follow.

I'd also like to thank the member of staff in Darent Valley A&E who admitted my father on 22 December last year. You were just brilliant! You made him comfortable, you made him and me smile, and you made him feel safe in a very frightening situation. And I'd also like to thank the hospital porter who took us all to the Ward from A&E that day. You were funny, kind, absurdly energetic, and totally professional, and you relaxed us by telling us funny stories along the way.

If the Government ever wants to make an advert to show why the NHS is so important, and what it does, they should just film all of you. I think you're what they nowadays call "poster girls/boys".

With my thanks and best wishes,

Michael