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My father Robert died on St Gemma’s Moors Ward on 29th April and it has taken me a while to be able to find the words to express my gratitude.
My dad was cared for over 2 weeks and I felt an overwhelming sense of being totally humbled by watching the team at work. In particular I noted how they really do work together as a team. It is a well oiled machine which quietly and efficiently works in the background. They work together as they change shifts and move around and always know what is going in with a patient, whether they have eaten or not and what they like. And the team are all smiling! How does that happen? It is not by chance, I am sure. It’s because it feels like a great place to work, despite the sadness.
The team sensitively know when a hug is needed. I needed quite a few. For a while my dad was confused and thought that he was in a hotel. He was worried about how much the extras were going to cost! It is testament to everyone involved that a patient can think they are in a hotel.
On his birthday, the team came and gave him a cake, prosecco and all sang. It was a wonderful moment I will cherish forever. Every single person I encountered was professional, courteous, kind, caring, fun and just wonderful! I cannot begin to thank every person I encountered, although I did try!
As I consider my recent experience, I feel so thankful that my dad was able to die in the care of St Gemma’s. I cannot honestly think of anywhere else I would have rather been.