"dont forget the carers"

I was admitted to ward a9 on 24th june for a femoral derotation osectomy on my right leg.

At the age of 40 this was very daunting but was immediately put at ease by the staff on the ward particularly by one of the carers.

From the moment i was shown my bed they introduced themself with a reassuring smile.

After surgery and consequently the days after nothing was too much trouble.

All the staff where rushed off their feet looking after so many patients and being clearly understaffed accompanyed with 12 hour shifts but the carer was always there if anyone needed cheering up or just a cuddle because being in hospital was just getting too much.

They just simply told us they love their job and it showed. But their duties didnt stop there.

On the day i was due to come home as usual the staff were very busy.

I had sent home all my belongings with my family at afternoon visiting and was awaiting to be discharged and for an ambulance to take me home.

By the time everything was organised it was too late and it was decided a wheelchair taxi would have to be called.

It was 7.30 and staff were due to change over in half hour.

The carer came into my bay and announced i was on my way home and told them the arrangements that had been made by nursing staff and instead of a smile their face fell.

They asked the nurse to get a wheelchair and told me to sit in it.

I hobbled on my crutches and sat but when i was asked to put my feet on the footplates it was an impossible task.

There wasnt enough flexibility in the operated leg to bend it and i was stuck.

With that i was told there was no way i could get in the taxi and would have to stay another night till i could be booked on the ambulance the following day.

I was devastated but the carer was there for me.

All my belongings were at home and my phone was about to run out of charge so they let me use their phone and call home to explain to my family what had happened.

They then went beyond the call of duty and instead of going home at the end of shift they went to my house collected a overnight bag and returned it to me at the hospital.

Myself and family couldnt believe that a member of staff who knew me a week would do something so kind and selfless.

After returning we had one final hug and they eventually got to go home for a well deserved four days off. People talk about the doctors, nurses on these wards but its also the carers like this one who contribute to making such a stressful time bearable and play an important part in a patients recovery in the early days in hospital and go beyond the call of duty. Thank you