"Excellent human beings work here"

I was treated as an outpatient in the Emergency Gynaecology Unit at Treliske between December 2013 - March 2014 and experienced outstanding care on every visit. From the midwife sonographer who with great love and care broke the sad news and outlined the options to the doctors performing the surgical procedures afterwards, everyone showed great humanity. I was in and out of the hospital a bit for monitoring over about two or three months Personalities and rarely saw the same doctor twice, which didn't matter in the least because of the outstanding professionalism of the lead nurse. She guided us through all the different options, answered as many questions as I could think of and translated my notes into English from medical jargon. More than that, she was always there to show me what to do in those awkward moments, to say the right thing and give a friendly squeeze of the hand if one was needed and tell me I was being brave. She even warmed up the jelly when she did the ultrasound! The doctors who performed the surgery all introduced themselves (with actual eye contact), explained the procedure in enough detail and were very good at asking for my consent and checking in before every interaction, not just diving in once the consent form was signed! One particular consultant gave up his lunch break to fit me in when I needed a follow up procedure in a bit of a rush. Never let it be said that the NHS treats you like a number, when I rang back a year later for a follow up, I spoke to the same person and she remembered me and my history. The NHS is held together by people like the lead nurse, who take the time, despite being perpetually understaffed, to make sure that everyone they treat feels like a dignified, unique human being.