"Dad's Stay at lings Bar"

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Our father, who passed away last week, spent the last six, and probably the most difficult, months of his life in Lings Bar Hospital. The hospital is relatively small, modern and purpose built and has great use of space to create areas for plants and ponds that greatly improve the feel. When you walk in it is fresh, clean and decorated in a subtle but bright way. It feels welcoming. Better still as you walk along the corridors almost every member of staff that you encounter will give you eye contact and say hello. This is clearly a hospital where people contact and empathy is very important. Dad was on Castle Ward and the staff here, from the most junior to the most senior, can only be described as amazing. Their care for him was truly professional but very empathetic and caring. They treated the person rather than the patient and this included care and counselling for the family who visited. They never once stopped trying to deal with his mental as well as his physical needs. Nothing was ever too much trouble and we never once saw a member of staff treat any request for help with less than complete sympathy irrespective of how busy they were. The period produced many worries for us and they were always prepared to find time chat to us about how he was, what they were doing and what the prognosis was. This was such a help. The day he passed away all the staff we met were quick to offer their sympathy for the family and not a few shed tears with us at his passing. No one wants to be in hospital but if it is essential then Lings Bar shows that it can still be done with genuine care and compassion. We cannot thank everyone enough.