"Excellent and Caring Medical and Support Staff"

The Urology Surgical Team performed a radical prostatectomy on me on Thursday 16 January 2020 as I had prostate cancer which was hopefully contained within my prostate. As a newspaper reading member of Joe Public I am very much aware of the brickbats being thrown at the NHS, often without foundation and usually with only the tastiest morsels published by the press vultures (a few horrible mixed metaphors!). This is an individual’s attempt to redress that balance and praise the care and professionalism that I have found at Shrewsbury Hospital.

The staff were so attentive and caring throughout my stay. I will resist the temptation to produce a nominal roll of those wonderful people for whom nursing can only be a vocation – their unreserved devotion to the patients goes far beyond what could be called a ‘profession’. At every stage of what can be a daunting process each step and its purpose was explained. The doctors, nurses and support staff on Ward 26U were immaculate in their courtesy and attentive care.

Sometimes the observations of a patient can produce collateral for confirming that the ship is on course. As an inmate who was a long way down the order of needing constant attention I was able to observe the ward routine and the one clear message was the wonderful spirit of co-operation between all the staff. They were totally unflappable and all pitched in to deal with constant and sometimes thoughtless patients’ demands, treating everyone as if they were the only patients in the ward.

Modern buildings and impressive looking infrastructure count for little if the spirit and purposeful cohesion is absent. I was greatly cheered by an inspired level of teamwork that was sustained throughout my stay and I thank all the staff for their selfless care and attention whilst I was at Shrewsbury Hospital.