"End of life care provided with dignity"

My mother recently passed away as a result of ovarian cancer. She had lived with teh condition for a few years and in November 2010 was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury with complications where she ended up having an illeostomy. I feel her care at Royal Shrewsbury was poor and I will report on that seperately.

When mum finally got transferred to Ludlow Hospital, Dinham Ward she was the recipient of some of the best care I have ever witnessed in the NHS (I work in the NHS in another county). The staff worked together as a team to meet the needs of all patients, it was a wonderful environment with the right balance of humour and compassion. It was clearly embedded in the culture of the organisation that services should be provided to meet the patients need and with respect and care.

Unfortunately mum's condition deteriorated and her needs increased. The attention to detail shown by all of the staff was incredible, not once did we have to ask them to do things, they were in and out of her room checking that she was ok constantly. She was washed, changed and made comfortable several times a day and her dignity was maintained throughout.

Sadly she did not manage to make it home as she would have liked, however she would not have had such a good service and such great support if we had managed to get her there.

I can only summarize by saying to anyone that is interested in truely patient centred care, provided with dignity, care and compassion; please go an visit Ludlow Hospital, Dinham Ward because it is clearly just the way they do things.