"People who truly care and make a huge difference to our lives"

I had been in the Army for 15 years and only left in 2017. Six months later I broke my foot and it hadn’t healed properly. So fast forward through a year of pain and anxiety to my surgery day I was very nervous but keen to have the surgery so I could get back to doing what I left the Army for (to be there every moment for my son who my husband and I had adopted 3.5 years ago). From the moment I set foot on the ward I felt reassured by the staff dealing with me, Sam was my nurse who was brilliant. Unfortunately I cannot recall some of the teams’ names but by no means did they matter any less. The Anaesthetic team were wonderful - I’ve had a few General anaesthetics and by far this team were the loveliest and put me at ease straight away - Simon, (Mike - apologies if I got your name wrong!), Liz and the rest of the team you are wonderful people who I sensed the empathy, compassion and professionalism as soon as you introduced yourselves. Thank you. 

I am a great believer that we are so lucky to have our NHS but the thing I really do appreciate most about it are the truly wonderful people who make it work. I witnessed someone on the day of my surgery who I couldn’t help but hear moan about the order of the list, whether they would get back home (in time), etc, etc... As far as I was concerned although I had to wait for a date for my surgery - at least I don’t have to pay for it but I’m still getting the best treatment from the staff who make it all happen. All of the staff who dealt with me are truly held within my heart as people who truly care and make a huge difference to our lives, overworked, many of them underpaid, understaffed but they still do their jobs and take the criticism when it should be aimed at those who don’t know what it’s like to do what they do every day.

I am sorry if I have left out anyone who dealt with me during my day surgery experience - and for those I have mentioned, forgive me if I caught your names wrong! The lady nurse I saw before I left I forgot your name - apologies but I meant it when I said thank you - you said you’d know who it was if I mentioned ‘Watercolour Collie tattoo!’