"Thank you for helping us to navigate the worst week of our lives"

My husband has been cared for, and treated with the utmost respect and kindness during the worst week of our lives.

He was taken to DGRI by ambulance after collapsing at home, was assessed quickly and blood transfusions were quickly arranged followed by a night in the assessment unit.

An internal bleed was quickly diagnosed, and after some very worrying delays over the weekend, he was diagnosed with a rare stomach cancer on the Tuesday.

By Wednesday the team had carried out a CT scan and arranged to transfer my husband to Edinburgh hospital for specialised surgery. At the time of writing we are hopeful for a positive outcome.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express my thanks to everyone involved in my husbands care. From the ambulance crew collecting him from our home, to the calm doctors in A and E, the understanding nurses and auxiliary staff caring for him day and night ( while a tearful wife was getting in the way - sorry) the chaplaincy team always appearing just when we needed them, and the consultants and medics moving quickly to secure the best outcome for my husband. 

There were some frustrations with delays in getting diagnostic tests, and some occasions when bad news could have been delivered with more empathy and much less jargon…..but this care was delivered at a time when staff and resources are under enormous and ever increasing pressures.

The staff are all working under stressful conditions, but patient care and nursing is never compromised. 

Thank you for helping us to navigate the worst week of our lives.