"Renal unit"

I had my first session for dialysis back in Oct 2023. I had previously been given a tour of the unit but had forgotten most of what I was shown and told. 

I arrived via patient transport which was great not to have to find my way there by myself.

From the greeting at reception from the 3 musketeers Sarah, Tara and Georgia to being guided through a different set up from being called in weighed and then being shown my bed. 

It all went smoothly and everyone  was so kind and happy with each other. The patients were equally as helpful and caring to newbies too.  All great characters and very welcoming to me.

It feels as though you are part of a large family who are interested in you as a person not just a patient. 

All the staff make you feel welcome from musketeers, nurses, doctors, podiatrists; dieticians and Pharmacists to the most important gang who provides tea, toast and ginger biscuits. 

It will be a long journey for us as patients some for years with some returning to the fold but everyone is made to feel welcomed and valued as a person. 

I have to also mention the drivers that get us there at a variety of times for our sessions and home after the dialysis. They also provide humour, stories, knowledge and a very helpful caring shoulder to lean on even when you might not feel the best snd when they might have their own issues to deal with. They battle through traffic, band parades, silly drivers and flooding to get us there for the all important life continuing treatment. Very occasionally they might have a grumpy patient. 

All in all I couldn't survive this process without all these wonderful people. They all provide cheeky banter to a very caring attitude even when machines, computers and the water supply creates problems to deal with.