"Compassionate, caring service"

I wish to dearly thank a most amazing consultant, his wider team and nurses who are supporting me with endometriosis treatment at the moment at Wirral Women's and Children's Hospital.

For decades, I have suffered excruciating generalised body ache, pelvic pain, and debilitating periods. Most of general practice doctors and gynaecologists in other hospitals dismissed my pain and told me it is in my head. This resulted in me losing trust in women's healthcare. Being a researcher though, I did not give up, because I know my body and I knew all along there was something really wrong with my menstrual pain and bleeding.

Before the pandemic, my GP believed me and kindly referred me to this hospital. I had to wait for a very long time still, because of Covid, until this autumn when a most wonderful consultant kindly saw myself and my partner. He is one amazing gynaecologist specialising in endometriosis care. He said he believed me but I still doubted him due to previous terrible experiences I had with arrogant and completely dismissive doctors. I went in well-read on my disease and armed with many questions. I was upset and beyond nervous. I could not even look at him when we first saw him. I was shaking and feeling like escaping but my partner held me and I sat there talking all upset and sad. I have developed a phobia of anything to do with gynaecology. But he calmly and patiently listened to me. Soon after, about 10 days ago, I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy and this wonderful consultant took me safely through the operation, reassured me, and discharged me in peace. I still need another operation to remove the rest of my disease. However, now I do not feel that scared to the extent I was before. 

We are very disturbed about how long I suffered in my youth and how helpful it would have been to me if I had received this type of care back then. I am heartbroken by how no one believed I had endometriosis and how I pushed my life with a steely determination. But this man and his whole team are supporting us to recover to some extent. I know this is a chronic illness but I now feel there are people here who do not argue with me when I say I am in pain. They understand me and they are really doing their best to help us.

I also have noted that there is a really sweet culture among nurses here. From the student nurse who held my hand and reassured me to the lovely lady who came and asked what I fancied to eat a day after operation, everyone is so compassionate. I have not seen anything like it in other places and it says a lot about the culture of teamwork and patient care here. 

I want to thank Deputy Head of Midwifery, my wonderful Consultant, his brilliant team, all gorgeous nurses, recovery area nurses  who looked after me immediately after surgery when I came round from general anesthesia crying and screaming. The nurses who kept calming me before and afterwards and were absolutely adorable to me, the student nurse who kept calming me in recovery, the nurses on the ward on day and night shifts who kept looking after me and other ladies on ward, the 2 amazing nurses who literally took me out of bed and gently walked me to bathroom when I had lost all hope in pain and I was helplessly crying.  They stood there so I do not faint or fall, they watched me every step, they fed me before I was discharged.  The nurses who talked to me so peacefully and gently. The registrars and wonderful anaesthetist, the ladies who walked me to theatre and distracted me by talking when I was being put under.  The nurses who held my hand and wiped my tears, to domestic staff who were full of amazing smiles.  To all men and women who made sure I was safe on my operation day and while recovering, you are all heroes. Thank you each and every one of you beautiful people with all my heart. 

I know the pandemic has distressed all NHS staff and I know how this has impacted all of you. To all of you who are still working here in this hospital and who care about women so passionately in the gynaecology ward, for showing up with a smile, a caring touch, a loving heart, thank you.