"The excellent work you do for your patients and families"

First of all please forgive me if I do not get everyone's name correct, I'm afraid my memory remains a little hazy post op but I am keen to thank everyone for their wonderful care.

I was admitted in mid February under the care of Dr Kumar to day surgery. From the moment I arrived the staff couldn't have been more professional or caring. Shona and Jennifer who checked me in were lovely, Shona was so kind to take extra time with me to make sure I got the stockings on correctly and I hope Jennifer is settling in well to her new position, one well suited to her lovely nature.

Dr Campbell the anaethetist (this may not be the correct name) came and spoke to me and advised that I may have to remain an inpatient overnight, again this was not the news I had wished for but she handled it in such a way that it really didnt seem frightening.

Elspeth then came to take me to theatre and I'm sure it seemed a small thing to her but her taking the time to speak to me about her glasses really settled any nerves I had and was a huge thing to me. I forget the name of the nurse who took me to theatres, she previously worked at the QEUH, but again her chat and gentle humour were just what I was needing.

Before going under, Dr Campbell was so kind to say to me we will take care of you. I really can't tell you what that meant.

When I came round Jim and Gemma took excellent care of me. In my handover to Stacey I became a little tearful. In Stacey the NHS has a staff member who deserves nothing but praise and recognition for her wonderful care. She is the true definition of a nurse. From comforting me, ensuring I had adequate pain relief, ensuring my husband could be with me and offering me kind words specific to my situation, she couldn't have done more. This was not unique to me either. I watched and listened to the way she and Amanda interacted with other patients and they were exemplary!

Finally their insistence on taking me to the ward themselves really meant to much to me as it meant they were with me when I felt vulnerable. In the excitement of seeing my husband I never got to say goodbye so I would be most grateful if you could pass my thanks on to them, they really are a credit to Wishaw.

My care on the ward was again beyond reproach. Julie my night nurse, Pauline my day nurse, Margaret my HCSW were all wonderful. They spent time with me, offered me comfort and made sure I got home comfortably and safely. Again things I can see they do without realising the impact on their patients, but I would like them to know that it made such a difference to my family and I. They may have guessed from the size of my "entourage" that they were all a bit anxious about me but they all said that they felt comfortable and confident leaving me with such lovely people. My room was spotless, cosy and so comfortable, I would not be exaggerating to say it felt like a five star hotel room.

Finally my thanks go to Dr Kumar and her team. She and her team have been supporting my husband and I through diagnosis and treatment. She is knowledgeable, professional yet above all kind. She always takes the time to explain everything to us in a way we can understand, took the time to come and see me after surgery and was reassuring and kind. I have never felt more confident in or comfortable with a physician and that is a real skill which should be acknowledged. Her registrar Carla clearly shares her approach to medicine and they both have a wonderful bedside manner.

Thank you NHS Lanarkashire and the team at University Hopsital Wishaw. We hope you enjoyed your biscuits and sweeties but we wanted to thank you in a more formal way and one in which those working within your management service could see the excellent work you do for your patients and families. Thank you again!