"Brilliant all round care for my elderly cousin"

My cousin has a range of health problems, including osteoporosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The care she has received for her long-term illnesses, from both community and hospital-based staff, has been nothing short of brilliant.

She has been admitted to Derriford hospital three times in the last year, once to the Hembury ward and twice to the Bracken ward. Apart from not working on her mobility as we'd hoped, all the staff on the Hembury ward were brilliant, so caring. The care on the Bracken ward was even better, they had her up and out bed working on her mobility and all the staff were great.

The last time she was hospital she was there for a long time, as she had a serious chest infection and lots of pain in her chest. This was a really testing time with her needing numerous tests, different treatments and blood transfusions. This stay in hospital could have been awful for her because she is so frightened of hospitals and hates being in them. However, all the staff made her feel at home were constantly reassuring her and filling her with confidence.

In particular, the care and attention given to my cousin by the Community Matron, Paula Fenton and the Community COPD nurse, Liz Hughes has been wonderful. Their all round service is brilliant, they were born to do their jobs!

Paula Fenton has helped arrange a single bed that can be adjusted to my cousin's specification and constantly goes the extra mile. Paula's whole persona is caring and she visits my cousin every fortnight. I always know she's on the end of a phone, which reassures both me as a carer and my cousin.