"Ward 4D is so special!"

I have just been discharged from QEUH, having spent three months in the renal department in ward 4D. I have had a overwhelmingly positive experience and I couldn’t be more grateful to every single member of staff on this ward for providing me with with such outstanding care for so long.

To have stayed in a ward for three months and to have experienced entirely seamless, faultless care for that length of time is extraordinary and testament to how special this ward is. I’ve never experienced anywhere like it.

Everyone I came into contact with was wonderful, from the Senior Charge Nurse, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and nurses to the health care assistants, phlebotomists, domestic staff, and catering assistants. They are the most professional, efficient, hard working, cheerful, compassionate, kind, good humoured, caring group of people.

Nobody wants to be in hospital for months, but if you have to be, then you couldn’t ask for a better ward to be placed in than this one. From admission to discharge, I was treated with nothing but respect and kindness. Nothing was ever too much trouble for anyone. One example of something that surprised and impressed me was that in three months I never once heard a patient being called by their room/bed number when they were discussed, always by their name, and with such warmth. It’s simple things like that which really set them apart from some other care I’ve received in other hospitals and wards. I could never thank them enough for treating me so well. 

It seems wrong to single people out when everyone is so great, but some people looked after me so often over the three months and made a massive impact so I feel I must say special thanks to:

Anne Marie for running the most incredible ward and caring so much for her patients. 

Nurses Kelly and Nicola, who were often on shift when I felt at my worst and there is nobody in the world you’d rather be with when feeling very unwell. They are the calmest (and most calming) kindest, most empathetic, wonderful nurses imaginable. They are both such amazing advocates for their patients and couldn’t have taken better care of me. 

I loved being looked after by Ailidh, the two Sharons, Laura, Lesley, heather, Nicole, Melissa, Jenny, and Mando. They are all exceptional nurses and so professional with such lovely personalities. 

Lex for being completely brilliant and going above and beyond every single shift. He is unbelievable at what he does and made me feel as at home as you could ever feel in a hospital. The HCA Anne Marie and Nicole who were also fabulous and couldn’t have been more supportive of me. They all made such a difference to my days there. 

The ANP John who was always fantastic and endlessly patient. I’m so grateful for all his help and his miraculous skills at putting cannulas in my impossible veins!

The absolutely lovely catering assistants Denise, Heather and Stacey who cheered me up every day without fail and tried so hard to find me food I could eat while I was being sick all the time. They are so brilliant at what they do. 

The domestic staff especially Liz, Jackie and Karen for being amazing and such lovely company while they worked so hard. 

The dieticians who were the nicest, most positive, patient and supportive professionals. They helped so much. 

Dr Padmanabhan for being brilliant and so patient while working so hard to find the right course of action for me and for being so considered in everything he did. I trusted him completely and always felt in very safe hands. I was so appreciative of his honesty and sympathy when I was slow to recover despite everyone’s very best efforts.

Dr Drummond for leaving no stone unturned and being the most caring and approachable doctor you could ever hope to meet. I’ve never met a Consultant with a lovelier presence and I’ve never been treated by anyone so kind and encouraging. He is such a special doctor. 

Amro for being completely lovely, kind and approachable and always keeping me so well informed. Amro was particularly great at letting me know what was going on at all times and always updating me of any changes really quickly. It makes such a difference. He also always took such time and care in answering any questions I had and making me feel like they were brilliant and valid questions. 

Ben for being so empathetic, understanding, reassuring and kind and for making me feel better every single time he came into the room. His great sense of humour and compassion was more appreciated that he could ever know. I’ll never forget how brilliant he was at explaining everything to me and always making me feel completely understood. He is an amazing doctor and his patients are very lucky to have him. 

Thanks to everyone who looked after me for letting me experience the NHS at its finest.