"Such superb care. Thank you!"

I have just returned home from a seven night admission to Clearbrook Ward following a successful heart valve replacement operation performed on 1st March. Through you, I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the kind, courteous and professional care afforded to me following my operation.

Here are some highlights. After my operation, I was swiftly transferred from ICU to the HDU at Torrington where to begin with, I mostly slept. I recall that whenever I woke, there was always someone by my bedside, with a smile, keeping watch and keeping me informed of what was happening.

When I transferred to the ward, I was looked after by the superb nursing team who's care, skill and compassion was outstanding. For two nights I couldn't sleep so it was arranged for me to be transferred to a side ward which gave me the chance to get the rest I needed. One of the team was also concerned that I did not want to eat and they got me some soup and helped me to eat it.

The person in the next bed was confused and distressed. He was over eighty and had received major heart surgery. The time and patience offered him helped to reassure him and reduce his levels of distress.

The whole team worked tirelessly together, always with a smile, always with kindness and affection, helping their patients to recover. If they found time for a gap in their duties, they sat down to talk to the patients, not each other. They encouraged independence, but ensured safety.

And they were part of a wider team. When my appetite returned, I found the food to be tasty, plentiful and varied, served always with a smile and a check that everything was placed within reach. The ward was spotlessly clean, looked after by a housekeeping team who were friendly, hard working, professional, yet unintrusive. And who popped their heads around every day to say good morning.

This is just a snapshot of my weeks stay following major surgery and I just wanted to thank everyone for their hard work, their care and their professionalism and for getting everything absolutely right. The care I received was Outstanding. Thank you!