"A single team all working in the best interests of their patient"

I was helicoptered ( North West Air Ambulance ) from the Lake District to A&E in Preston and then directly onto ward 2B after a cycle accident where my bike had collapsed under me on a simple ride with my kids. Despite my helmet I ended up unconscious ( 15 mins )  with little outer damage but a haemorrhage inside my brain.

I have very few memories of the first 10 days but I was good enough to go home after 12 days with continued support from Social Services etc. I also have very limited memories of my first two days at home.

My view of ward 2B are heavily based on views from my family and a very odd sense of the warmth and respect that I have for the team on this this ward even though I myself cannot remember with much detail. I went back with my wife about a week after discharge and it was amazing how warm the companionship of the staff felt. There were faces and voices that I recognised - and really respected - and yet at the same time I had very few detailed memories of my time there. Very very odd but very very comforting at the same time.

From the bits my family have described and the bits that I remember I would draw out the following positive points :

=> My mother ( 70 + ) and my wife spent long days with me during the first week and the staff were always supportive to them.=> I was in a  ward of 4 patients and do remember bits of the daily routine. I remember ( and my wife has also mentioned ) how good the food was with 2 main meals a day rather than one.

=> The staff were very respectful and understanding of our brain injuries and the behavioural difficulties that could sometimes arise. As a simple example every patient was helped to eat at meal times even when it took time.

=> When I was discharged ( still with some issues but pleased to be going home ) a team of two nurses came to my family home to confirm that I was OK in that environment. They were brilliant and arranged some extra aids to help me ( shower stool etc ) . They were really positive but didn't miss a thing and we had a really useful debrief at the end about how I could make things easier for myself by going about some tasks slightly differently.

=> When I did try going home my bed was held for me in the hospital for one night in case my home care did not work out.

=> When I went back to the ward the staff were all very friendly and took time to explain how I knew them when my memories of them were so poor.

=> I remember how my wife and I were encouraged to go off for trips to the gardens towards the end of my stay, I guess preparing me to go home..

=> I went back after @3 weeks to see the consultant ( Dr Donaldson Hugh )  and found her very helpful. She took me down to the ward to meet the staff and I was particularly impressed with how the whole team were seen as just that - a single team all working in the best interests of their patients.

In terms of negative points I honestly cannot remember any.