"Treated with dignity, respect and compassion"

Yesterday (8 October 2015) I visited Berwick Infirmary following a referral from my GP. I was to undergo an intrusive and embarrassing procedure which I'd not experienced before and wasn't looking forward to. From the moment I arrived the nurses and staff treated me with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion. The procedure was explained clearly, I was shown to a room on my own since a gentleman was also waiting to have the same procedure in the more open ward. My privacy was totally respected and, bearing in mind the intrusive and intimate nature of the procedure, I felt comfortable and protected (never exposed) at all times. In the day surgery unit I was treated with utmost gentleness and kindness - like a real person, not another case. I cannot tell you what a difference this made. I was returned to my room and told to 'chill and rest' for as long as I wanted and offered a cup of tea and a biscuit.

This wonderful facility - and its superb staff - is so important to a small and isolated town such as Berwick and the villages that surround it. Let's support it and keep pressing for the funds to upgrade it and the commitment to build it up rather than run it down. Thanks again to the staff. You made a difficult day so much easier.