"Excellent care"

Going to hospital on Christmas Day is not the most exciting prospect of the year. Being admitted on Christmas Day in a foreign country with a foreign language would fill most people with horror.

My Italian mother had that experience but she was fortunate enough to end up in the Short Stay Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital. So she did not have a horrific experience, far from it, but experienced kindness, friendliness and sympathy.

She felt supported by a team of wonderful international nurses who did everything in their power (and beyond) to make her feel at home. They translated basic information, mimed instructions and even attempted to read her books in Italian to give her some humour in such a difficult time. A team of extraordinary doctors under the guidance of the kind Dr Christopher Zummit and Dr Di Marco, managed through smiles and encouragement to give her hope to be at home as quickly as possible.

The support staff gave my mum confidence to feel relaxed on the ward (she is an obsessive cleaner and she kept on praising the efficiency and hygiene of the ward! ) by offering drinks, helping her with food choice and most important of all by just smiling when she could not understand.

So, we just want to thank them for all you have done for us and for providing such a wonderful service. It is a service to be proud of and we will never forget we are very privileged in having the JR as our local hospital, and especially your ward.