"My father wouldn't be alive today..."

What I liked

On Friday October 8th 2010, my father was found collapsed in the bathroom of his home in Newark by my brother and admitted to Lincoln County Hospital before being transferred the next evening to Pilgrim Hospital, where to save his life, it was necessary to amputate his right leg above the knee.

The next ten weeks were spent in Ward 5B (including several days in the Intensive Care Unit), recovering not only from the operation but also subsequent health problems.

On December 16th, he was sufficiently well enough to be moved to Newark Hospital where he is currently making excellent progress.

The reason for this letter is to express my family’s gratitude to all the staff involved in looking after him.

The professionalism, care and kindness shown to my father by the consultant and the theatre team, the Intensive Care Unit staff & all the nurses, care workers, physiotherapists and refreshment people etc on Ward 5B was outstanding and without their 100% unstinting dedication to their work, together with their ever cheerful disposition, (which shone through even under the most difficult of circumstances), my father would not be alive today.

It may seem unfair to single out any one individual for additional praise; however I do feel the role one person played in my father’s recovery should certainly be recognised.

Although words cannot adequately express the debt my family have to your staff, I hope you will pass on our appreciation to them.

What could be improved

Making the whole of the hospital site non-smoking. As non-smokers it was awful having to pass all the smokers (many of them patients), standing around the main entrance rather than using the designated area near the car park, which wasn't enforced.DedicatedPatient careProfessionalismBathroomRefreshmentsConsultantsNursing staffPhysiotherapistsCheerfulCar Park