"Outstanding Care Given to an Elderly Lady"

I wish to acknowledge the exemplary care my 88 year old mother received at Torbay Hospital during 2015, first for an assessment for dementia and later for end of life care following a stroke.

My mother was diagnosed with dementia in Spring 2015 following a thorough assessment process.

The written material provided before the assessment was the best piece of official literature I have ever read, straightforward and clear, but also expressed in a way which showed understanding and sympathy for people in my Mum's position, and she found it helpful and reassuring. The assessment itself was thorough and professional, but made outstanding by the respect shown by everyone to my Mum, and by the care taken to ensure she understood what was happening. The combination of humanity with professional expertise and outstanding communication skills made the whole experience much easier for my Mum.

We returned to Torbay Hospital in December 2015, following my mother's stroke. I am aware that heavy demands are placed on NHS staff, but we would not have known it from the care given to us. I was never made to feel rushed, all the doctors, therapists and nurses gave us the time we needed. Decision making paid full regard to my mother's expressed wishes and the family was involved at every stage. Information was fed back to us with simple clarity, and expressed considerately and with great skill. The kindness and compassion shown alongside professional knowledge was admirable, and we greatly valued it, and felt that Mum was in the best possible hands. As a consequence, a very difficult time did not become traumatic. Having previously experienced outstanding end of life car at a hospice, it was quite something to see it matched through the care given by staff at Torbay Hospital. We are in their debt.