"Depth and Quality of nursing care during my hospitalisation."

Last week I spent 5 days in Ward 3  - the Acute Medical Receiving Unit [AMRU] - at the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire. I suffer from both incurable lung cancer and emphysema, and having been hospitalised with a severe chest infection, I was feeling both poorly and also pretty sorry for myself.

However, I need not have worried! The quality and level of care that I received, together with compassion, understanding, empathy, sensitivity and good humour from the nursing and auxiliary staff at all levels was truly wonderful. I felt safe, secure, respected and extremely well cared for throughout my stay, and although it would be invidious to name particular individuals, I'm sure you all know who you are! 

As an added bonus, they very astutely paired me in a two-bed bay with a great guy, and a like-minded soul [also with incurable lung cancer] which worked an absolute treat as we hit it off immediately, shared the same gallows humour, and benefitted hugely from also sharing our cancer emotions and experiences. 

Since I was diagnosed with the lung cancer almost two and a half years ago, and then also had to deal with bowel cancer earlier this year, I have been constantly and unreservedly impressed by my experience of the much-maligned NHS as a whole [both medical staff and organisationally] and I have to say that the staff of Ward 3 are very much up there with the best of them. They transformed what might have miserable week into a very positive and rewarding experience. Many many thanks, and my best wishes to you all.