"Care at Pilgrim hospital"

My story is two parts. I was referred for a heart scan at the nuclear medicine department, but I was so scared that I kept postponing it. I’m very grateful to the manager, who took time to explain the process to me and encouraged me to come for the test. On the day, they and other staff were just amazing! They did everything to put me at ease and although I was still scared, they provided such support that I got through the test safely. I can’t thank them enough because I needed the test report to get me on the transplant list.

The second part is about the wonderful staff in the acute cardiac unit. I went to Pilgrim hospital with chest pain on Thursday evening and was sat at the accident and emergency unit for 21 hours. This wait was probably one of the worst experiences of my life. I was eventually transferred to a ward, tried to settle, then was transferred again to ACU. 

I just want to say that the staff on the ward were lovely, even though it was obvious that they were short staffed on some shifts. They went above and beyond to make me comfortable and cared for me so well. They even tried cheering us up by putting the radio on. I didn’t like to disturb them but every time I apologised for pressing my bell, they always encouraged me to call them. 

The staff of ACU should be very proud of themselves and the NHS should be proud of them.