Patient thankyou letter for Ward 3

Following a period of 5 weeks at two different hospitals my father was admitted to the Freeman on 1 May 2007.

The stay at one of those hospitals had been particularly distressing for the family (the reasons which I will not go into) so the admittance to another hospital was met by the family, with shall I say, a little apprehension. 

On being admitted to Ward 3 I was immediately impressed by the staff and would like to take this opportunity to bring this to your attention.

My father’s consultant was Mr Dorkin who I believe is highly respected by the staff he works with and rightly so. Even though he has a heavy schedule his professionalism, his bedside manner and his patience with my father was to be admired.

Mr Heer, the registrar, explained matters in the absence of Mr Dorkin in a quiet, clear, informative manner and was prepared to take time out of his busy schedule to explain to other members of the family should the need arise.

It was refreshing to meet a consultant and registrar whose dedication and ability were immediately apparent, as for the staff on the ward itself they are exceptional. The difference in the standard of care was immediately noticed by our family. My father was treated with the highest standard of care for which we thank them and also for their attitude, kind words and time they spent with him. I realise staff are sometimes under great pressure and the wards can often be short staffed but the standard never slipped nor did the smiles.

So thank you Anne, Jaime, Rosé, Geoff, Elaine, Michael, Pat and Mon and all those who we never got to meet. You are a credit to the nursing profession and a yardstick for the NHS. 

Mrs SD

Patient thankyou letter for Urology

Some sections of the media seem to be interested in the NHS only when there are complaints or when they receive what they consider to be adverse reports on the running of the service. My experience of the NHS, in common with the vast majority can only be described as positive. This view was re-enforced recently when I had treatment in the Urology Department of the Freeman Hospital.

Ten days after going to my GP I was given a thorough examination at the Freeman and was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Just over two weeks later they operated on me to remove a cancerous tumour. The total time from first visiting my GP to being discharged from the hospital was four weeks.

I do not believe that a more rapid response would be achieved anywhere within Europe and I have no reason to believe I was treated differently from any other member of the public.

The doctors and nurses in the Urology Department treated me with understanding clearly aware of the trauma that patients go through when they are first confronted with this condition.

I would be grateful if you would pass on to all those staff in Urology my grateful thanks for the care and attention they gave me. I would also like to pay tribute to all those working behind the front line who have the thankless task to provide an ever increasing standard of service for a demanding public.

A copy of this letter has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt. Hon Patricia Hewitt and to the editor of the Daily Mail – to the latter in the hope they will give my views on the NHS some publicity.

Mr RD. 

Patient thankyou letter for Urology

I am a kidney transplantee since September 1999. I have always expressed my appreciation to the renal and urology staff, pre-dialysis, during dialysis and post transplant for the kindness and attention given to both me and my wife during those times.

Late August this year I visited my GP with some concerns with a urinary problem – since then, following a confirmation blood test, I was referred, seen in outpatients, had scans and biopsies and confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer all within a short period of time.

I write to ask if you could pass on to all staff concerned mine and my wife’s appreciation for the prompt, kind and professional manner in which I have been treated. All staff have been helpful and re-assuring right through the process ie Medical Physics for the bone scan, X-ray staff, Sister Barbara Smith and I particularly wish to mention Mr D Rix, Dr N Torpey, and Mark Davis all of whom put my mind at ease and helped me through the recent weeks.

As far as I am concerned, you have certainly achieved a high quality of care and in these days of performance ‘targets’ – you have definitely scored a winning Bulls eye with me.

Many thanks once again to all staff and keep up the good work.

Mr SH

Patient thankyou letter for Urology

I have just returned home after receiving world-class treatment from your hospital and I though it would be remiss of me if I didn’t take a few minutes to write my appreciation. I would also like to take the opportunity to show my appreciation to the staff in a more practical manner.

If I had to summarise this letter in one sentence it would be “I’ve been in and out of many hospitals and yours is the only one I’ve been sad to leave”.

I came to the Freeman Hospital because I could find no hospital in Scotland that uses leading edge laser technology for prostatectomy, which my GP said I needed. The fact that the Freeman Hospital is one of the very few in the UK to have this equipment is testament itself to the forward looking strategy of your organisation. I can confirm that side effects were minimal and I was able to leave hospital the day after the operation.

In the other hospitals I have been to I was treated as a patient. In the Freeman I was treated as a person. There is a big difference between the two. No matter brave you think you are, you always, inside you, feel a bit “shaky” when you go into hospital. I have every confidence in medical science but you sometimes hear of things going wrong which makes you apprehensive. The first thing that put me at ease was the staff telling me there was no rigid “lights out and into bed” time. Small point but it makes you feel you are not in a fixed authoritarian organisation, rather one which treats you with respect and dignity, and as an individual.

Next reassuring point was when I received swabs to check I didn’t bring MRSA into the hospital and, just as importantly, didn’t leave with it. I have never had that in a Scottish hospital I have been in.

You have established what I would call an excellent “ambience” at the Freeman. It’s difficult to translate that into words but I’ll try. The ambience is created first and foremost not by the bricks and mortar of the hospital but by its staff, and in particular by having a hiring policy which makes sure that all staff have high quality interpersonal skills, as well as being proficient at their job.

The next point on ambience was there did not appear to be the need for a “boss”.    All staff were empowered to do their job which they did to the highest possible standard and got fulfilment from being given the opportunity to do so. In a hospital with a good ambience, staff co-operate with each other, help each other out and don’t have “fall outs”. This ambience addresses the psychological need of a person to feel valued and builds trust and confidence that their stay will have a positive outcome.

I know that “Geordies” by nature are easy to get on with and have a cheerful outlook on life but I think you have managed to encapsulate more that that at the Freeman resulting in an effective interference free organisation. 

Coming on to how I would like to show my appreciation in a practical way, I would like to give the team who treated me a “team award”. I found out that the staff go out for a Xmas night and I have enclosed a cheque to pay for it. I have made the cheque payable to Roseanne Brien, the Senior Sister of my ward, and would ask her to give the money to the person who keeps the “kitty” for the night out. I think approximately 25 people went last year and I have based the cheque on this number. I will check nearer the time with Roseanne and if more is needed she shall have that as I don’t want to spoil the fun for a “ha’penny worth of tar”.

I used to work for IBM, who had a “team award” and I have taken the idea from there. In IBM, a senior member of the management team would get the group together, congratulate them on their efforts, then announce the award. This has a very motivating effect. I would obviously be grateful if you or one of your management team could spare the 10-15 minutes to do that. If you think, however that this would cause any disquiet in your organisation then just pass the cheque to Roseanne to cash and give the cash to the organiser of the Christmas party. Personally, I hope the rest of your organisation will not be upset. It was fortuitous I was allocated to Ward 2. I am sure I would have received the same treatment from any other part of your organisation and would have sent a cheque of the same value. 

If you or one of your colleagues talk to the team, I would like you to thank Mr Powell who set things in motion for me and without whom the operation would not have happened. Mr Powell is a considerate gentleman who set the right “tone” for the establishment. Also John Davies who operated on me, for his detailed explanations of what would happen before, during and after the operation. He prepared material about the operation which has proved very informative. Sharon Taylor is excellent at her job, as is Roseanne, and they were the core of a hardworking efficient team.

I could go on and on, but the simplest way to say it is – from receptionists, to nursing staff, from anaesthetists to surgeons, from Ward cleaning staff to the newspaper boy, you have an organisation to be proud of.

I don’t want an invite to the Christmas party as too many people would think they had to thank me. They don’t. They deserve this “team award”.

Mr JM

Ps Another nice touch was the choice of small, medium and large portions for meals. 

Patient thankyou letter for Ward 2 FH

I am writing to thank you and congratulate you on the quality of care that I recently received at the Freeman Hospital.

I was an inpatient in Ward 2 at the Freeman from 6 to 11 September undergoing major surgery under Mr Durkan on 7 September. I was extremely impressed by the kindness, the professionalism and the dedication shown by all members of staff I came into contact with. From the urology team itself, through the anaesthetists to the care on the ward itself, I could not have been better or more thoughtfully looked after, and I am sure this contributed greatly to the rapid recovery I have made since my operation.

I have sent a “thank you” card to the ward itself, but I should be grateful if you could pass my thanks on to all concerned.

Mr JB 

Thank you letter to staff on Ward 1

Thank you!

I really appreciate you all,

Your helpful, giving ways,

And all your generous hearts

And unselfishness displays.

I thank you for your kindness,

I will not soon forget;

You’re some of the nicest people

I have ever met.

Thank you all for taking care of me

After my operation and putting me on the road to recovery

KH

Thank you letter to staff on Ward 2

Just to say thank you all for your kindness during my recent stay in bay 4.  I was very scared when I came in but everyone was wonderful and it passed over quite quickly.  Please give my love to Delia and Estelle.

SW

Thank you letter to staff on Ward 3

To everyone on Ward 3.  Thanks for all your help and support - it was really appreciated.

PH

Thank you letter to staff on Ward 2

I would like to say a big thank you to all of the doctors and nursing staff of Ward 2 for the good care and kindness shown during my stay.

I was very much taken by how dedicated and hard working everyone is and in the face of everyone's problems, would have a happy face and lots of cheer.  Thanks again.

GL

Thank you card to staff on Ward 3

To all the ward staff.  Thank you for all the excellent care you have given me while I have been under your care.  Thank you so much - it was extremely appreciated.

BF

Thank you letter to staff on Ward 2

Dear Sister Rose and staff

We both send our heartfelt thanks to everyone of you for love and care during stay on Ward 2.   If we come anytime to Outpatients, I will drop off some home baking! Love and prayers, God Bless !

G&M

Thank you card to staff on Ward 3

For all staff and doctors on Ward 3 - thank you so very much for taking care of Dad.

GD