"Real kindness by staff"

This story has been posted by Healthwatch Tameside on behalf of a member of the public. We have their details and will forward any comments to them. They said…

I feel I should record my personal experience of real kindness by staff at Tameside Hospital.

I was called in to see the consultant anaesthetist in the pre-op unit about a proposed surgical procedure. I had to wait over 2 hours (from 3pm) during which I observed:

1) A passing cleaner, who saw a frail patient unable to get a drink from a defunct coffee machine, dropped her work in order to make the lady a cup of coffee

2) When I was eventually called in, the doctor apologised for the long wait, and made a telephone call which resulted in a cup of tea and a sandwich! (Entirely his idea)

3) By this time, it was 5. 30 and most clinics had finished. A senior nurse came in to say they were leaving. The doctor said to me that they had stayed an hour over their time because he was over-running. She (the nurse) said they were glad to because he was so good. She didn’t want to leave if I needed help. I assured her I would be alright. The nursing staff then left, or so I thought, but when my appointment ended at about 6pm, a nurse came in to help me to the exit & ensure I got a taxi. I thanked her for staying and she said she would never leave if a patient might still need assistance.