"A chance to say 'Thank You' to the staff in ICU"

My 82 year old father sadly passed away in late January 2015 in ICU at Stoke Mandeville hospital. He had been admitted to A & E the previous Sunday with breathing problems having had the cough, etc that is going around. He had been suffering from COPD for a number of years and had been on oxygen at home.

After 24 hours in the observation ward he was transferred to intensive care as his condition suddenly deteriorated. My brother and I had been with him and watched his struggling to breathe. He was then put on a ventilator and the staff were absolutely brilliant and did everything they possibly could to help him fight the infection etc. They never gave up on him despite him being unresponsive.

On Friday, 23rd January, we were taken into a room with a consultant and his nurses who advised that despite their best efforts his condition was deteriorating further and there was no more they could do. He was on life support and couldn't breathe on his own, bacterial infection had taken hold and he was undergoing multiple organ failure.

We were with him throughout and held his hand, talked to him in the hope he could hear us and have some comfort that he didn't die alone - we were with him all the time until the machines were disconnected. It has been heart-breaking, but he was so poorly it was a blessing for him. We cannot praise the NHS staff enough for they treated him with care, dignity and respect throughout and even though he was unconscious for the last 4 days they always talked to him explaining what they were doing eg. Taking his temperature, administering drugs, changing lines etc.

Regrettably, he was one of the victims of the flu mutation thus making his flu vaccination ineffective.

With all the adverse publicity in the Media it is important that the skill, dedication, commitment and professionalism of the NHS staff is highlighted to redress the imbalance in reporting. Staff at Stoke Mandeville ICU go above and beyond the call of duty. They fought to save my father’s life regardless of his age. They show relatives compassion and support as well as the first class treatment the patient receives whilst in their care. They even telephone the ward late at night to see how their patients are doing.

What more care can we ask of these caring professionals? Give them our support and value our NHS. Words seem inadequate but ‘Thank you’ for all you did for him.