"Outstanding staff and treatment"

My dad has been an inpatient since 22 September 2017 after being transferred from Sandwell Older Peoples Assessment Unit.

My dad was taken into Sandwell Hospital initially as he was dehydrated, had shingles and had not eaten for 5 weeks and was bedbound, unable to stand or walk after being struck with shingles.

We were all expecting the worse, including his GP and, although the Older People’s Assessment Unit is not a very friendly ward, they did their job and medically brought him back to where he was ready for rehabilitation at Rowley Hospital.

When he was first admitted to Henderson Ward he was quite withdrawn, he didn’t want to go and integrate in the Day Room and wasn’t much interested in trying to walk, in fact it was as though he had ‘given up’.

It was only the commitment of staff there, mainly the HCA’s who pushed him to want to get better and persevered in coaxing him into going into the Day Room for activities e.g. singing etc.

During his time in there I cannot fault any member of staff and cannot thank them enough for what they have done for him.

the Ward Managerw, all the HCA’s, the Physiotherapists and the Ward Services staff seem to go the extra mile to persuade the patients that there is a reason to try and there is a reason to live.

He cannot praise the meals enough and as he wasn’t eating at all before his illness, now we cannot fill him up!!

I would just like to say that we do not praise medical staff enough and I think they need some recognition when they are doing such good work.

He has been transferred today to Eliza Tinsley Ward in readiness for his discharge home but I know he would like me to send this thank you to all who have cared for him and brought him back to the man he was before his illness.

Many, many thanks once again for what the staff have done for dad and us as a family, making us all feel welcome and a part of his planned recovery.