"Care on Ward 9X"

My father - a man with advanced prostate cancer - was admitted as an emergency recently. He was drowsy and 'septic' and clearly not far from death, but thanks to the superb, speedy action of the A&E team led by the consultant, within 24 hours he had stabilised well, and within 48 hours he was back to his usual self. Care and communication during that worrying time was exceptional.

Up on Ward 9X, Dad couldn't have been happier with the care he received. When visiting, he commented on how lovely all the staff were, how nothing was too much trouble. A few days into his stay however, he took a turn for the worse, and we were grateful for the direct intervention and leadership from the consultant on the ward. Scans, phone calls and opinions from other doctors were completed quickly, and as a family we were grateful to the doctors for explaining to us that there was nothing more they could do, that Dad was approaching the end of his life and that the priority would be to keep him comfortable.

The Palliative Care nurses were involved quickly, and they were the embodiment of empathy and calm. It was a relief to us to see that Dad was given morphine in a timely manner so that we wasn't in pain.

It was clear to us that he was receiving brilliant nursing care during this period, led by the wonderful Sister on the ward. Dad was treated with great dignity at all times. Throughout this period up to his death, the professionalism, compassion and communication shown by the whole team - doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, catering staff - was second to none.

The Ward 9X team are a credit to themselves, the Royal, the people of Liverpool and the NHS as a whole.