"Well done PRI, you are getting it right"

After a little scare with sudden headaches I found myself having a short stay at Perth Royal Infirmary, the last time I stayed at an NHS hospital I was 9 years old, had a broken arm and found myself in the hospital at Bridge of Earn.

I had to make my way to ward 4 where I was quickly settled in by Amy, the nurse on duty at the time. I was in Bay 1 where there were several people each with their own ailments and problems, In due course Amy relinquished her command and handed over to Lianne, the night shift Charge Nurse. That night I had a largely sleepless night due to some of the patients being in distress in the night, this isn’t a complaint please be assured of that, I found it a completely humbling experience, witnessing first hand, the respectful dignity and care given to these unfortunate people.  It seemed that Lianne never had a minute of peace that night as she diligently tended these particular patients.

The following day I was transferred to Ward 7 and was billeted alongside two other patients! One particular patient was clearly ill with perhaps a chest problem, he was bedridden and if that’s not enough he was almost completely deaf and his hearing aid was broken, communication was clearly a problem, but not so for the bright young nurses who engaged with him and fussed over him, I learned he was an Aberdeen Fan, and his friend who visited him that day should have delivered team bunnet him to wear as he watched the game that day, alas he forgot it, One of the Nurses decided to make him a hat, just a paper bag with the Aberdeen logo skilfully drawn on it with the dryboard marker, but it was fun and surely made him smile, I certainly did when I heard the story.

In summary well done PRI, you are getting it right. All the staff there are amazing, wonderful people. My experience this weekend tells me that we have in the NHS, a service which is a cradle of humanity, we must defend it at all costs. I like to think that when I am in my advancing years it will still be there, and if I find myself in a similar predicament to my fellow patients who were in the wards those days, there will be Nurses of the same calibre on hand treating me with the same dignified respect and warmth shown them over those few days……. I won’t ever need an Aberdeen hat though! !