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Original poster

Has a healthcare professional ever made a lasting impression on you - for good?

144 replies

Thisisit777 · 30/11/2018 18:37

What good thing has a HP ever done for you?

Me - a kind midwife persevered with me in labour ward - I couldn’t breastfeed and was crying buckets. Meant a lot as she treated me well despite me being a snivelling mess.

You?

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 30/11/2018 19:54

Yes the midwife at my home birth
She said be calm and I was
And an excellent, kind, top class surgeon

Flowers to anyone who does this job well you deserve all the thanks

AnoukSpirit · 30/11/2018 19:56

I can think of fourteen, sitting here. And more who had a small impact that still stayed with me. To give one...

The paramedic who brought me into A&E and then came back later on to see how I was doing, and in the process showed me that people did genuinely care what happened to me and that my life did matter.

It was a small thing that made a huge difference to what happened next for me. There were lots of things people did for me that night that were transformative.

bouncymonk · 30/11/2018 19:56

When I was much younger, I was in a terrible relationship where he convinced me I was mentally ill. I went to the doctor and explained everything, expecting her to prescribe me something. Her response was

"Tell him to fuck off"

And she then told me all about abusive relationships. It's one of the most powerful things anyone has ever said to me! And I did, I did tell him to fuck off... eventually!

KellyMarieTunstall2 · 30/11/2018 19:57

A district nurse called Margaret. I met her at an evening wound clinic (I had to go daily to have a wound packed) she felt sorry that I had to go out at night in the bad weather with my baby, so she put me on her rounds list as she lived 5 mins from me. She visited almost every day for 6 weeks, and taught my husband how to do the dressings so we could have a few days off. I was and still am so grateful to her, it made my life so much easier.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 30/11/2018 19:59

An amazing midwife who delivered DD at home. She'd been my community mw throughout the pregnancy but wasn't on shift when we called for a midwife (at about 1am). However someone passed the msg on that I was in labour and she called back straight away. She said "I'll just pop over and have a cup of tea and see how you're doing", as if that was a completely normal thing to be doing in the small hours.

She came over, took my blood pressure, had her tea and declared that the baby would be there by breakfast. She was completely calm and let me get on with it. DD was born just before 6am.

Drogonssmile · 30/11/2018 20:00

My Gp is lovely. She is a similar age to me and has similar age kids. She's the sort of person I could imagine being friends with if she wasn't my GP!

Also the midwife and the student helping her for my second birth. They were bloody brilliant.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 30/11/2018 20:01

The ophthalmic consultant who cares for my visually impaired son

DS also has learning difficulties, and this incredible man's patience and compassion - not to mention his clinical skills - are beyond compare. He never makes a drama out of a crisis either, and though very busy he makes both patients and their families feel as if he has all the time in the world for them

The only problem is that he just won't be thanked. I've tried - god knows I've tried, even writing to the hospital trust to let them know what a treasure they have - but all I get is a modest shrug and an "I try my best"

If only all medical professionals could be like him

Original poster
Thisisit777 · 30/11/2018 20:03

Angels in disguise maybe.

Bloody hard to be a health professional in these austere times. Proud of them all.

OP posts:
needaduvet · 30/11/2018 20:04

My old GP & my current one. My old GP had a wicked sense of humour & always somehow managed to make things feel better. It was a real blow when she retired. My current GP is just lovely, very kind and patient. Will call me back and always properly talks through all options with me. I will not be moving practices ever.

Racecardriver · 30/11/2018 20:05

Trainee nurse was really kind to me and my baby. HV who was really lovely. She grew up in a dodgy estate and became a HV to escape that. She was very bright and great at her job.

Kokapetl · 30/11/2018 20:11

The obstetrician who listened to me disputed my grumpiness and then negotiated with the anaesthetist who previously was not listening at all. It meant I got a lower dose spinal, recovered feeling in my legs quickly and didn't have to stay overnight in hospital.

I am pretty scared of anaesthesia and had bad experiences staying in hospital with my first (no more than an hour's sleep for 5 nights) so this meant a lot. I also got to have breakfast with my older child the next day which I am still so glad about.

KatyMac · 30/11/2018 20:13

Not a HCP but a first aider that chose to ring an ambulance for me instead of a taxi to send me home; then the ambulance men/paramedics who decided to take me to hospital rather than let my boss ring a taxi

An ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed later

More recently the Nurse practitioner who ignored what I went to the surgery with focussing in on the tiny gynae symptoms which meant I had problems & the amazing nurse who looked after me post op

Th eprivate consultant who refused payment from DH, sent him to Papworth's Lung Defense Clinic (who saved his life) and then bollacked the ordinary chest specialists for not sending DH to see him sooner on the NHS

The good outweigh the bad

citiesofbismuth · 30/11/2018 20:14

A senior nurse at the eye hospital. I turned up during the night crying in pain due to my post debridement corneal abrasion kicking off big time. He was so nice, and put anaesthetic drops in, then carefully retrieved the eyelashes which had turned inward and were scraping against the cornea. Such a caring nurse. I thanked the hospital for his care and attention that night.

It is still known as The Crunchy Eyelash Incident of 2003 😬

Parttimewasteoftime · 30/11/2018 20:18

My GP is lovely turned up for appointment to a Mars bar and a Cuddle. Felt no movement with DS2 after having a late miscarriage was terrified and pretty hysterical. He was is fine thank god never forget his care.
Also the doctor that delivered my DD at 20 weeks my heart actually broke she was so kind and respectful. Saw her before birth of DS2 she nearly delivered him. But some how my Cs got done by another doctor never knew if she stepped aside so I wouldn't have that memory.

MaMisled · 30/11/2018 20:25

A Community Psychiatric Nurse tentatively suggested that my PND would be helped if i wasn't living with my DXH! She was right. He was the root of all my issues!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 30/11/2018 20:25

Mr Fish, the surgeon who did my radical hysterectomy when I had cervical cancer. Shocking to write this but he was the only person during my treatment that showed any interest in my psychological recovery. This was 13 yeast ago and I have never forgotten his kindness.

Also never forgotten the GP whom I asked for an extension to my 6 week sick certificate. He never asked how I was and just told me I had to get back to work sometime. I left the surgery in tears and it was Mr Fish who wrote to the surgery to put them right.

Even after all these years, what I went through back then is very painful to think about.

tierraJ · 30/11/2018 20:30

My Psychiatrist is very good.

A district nurse who came out when i self harmed & dressed my foot - totally non-judgemental.

A paramedic who looked after me when I had a head injury following a seizure - I don't remember his name but he was very good.

Hoppinggreen · 30/11/2018 20:32

I had a Mc at 12 weeks
I started bleeding and was at home alone and as I live so close to the hospital I took myself to A&E and phoned DH to meet me there ( appreciate now there was no point but I was panicking a bit)
I was taken into triage and a male nurse held my hand and said “ i know it’s scary and you are worried but we are here to look after you” and he did
Lots of other medical things happened subsequently and over the next year and to be honest I found a lot of the medical staff pretty callous but I will never forget that man

Caprisunorange · 30/11/2018 20:40

Hoppinggreen that reminds me of when I had my first baby. I hadn’t even been in hospital before, and the Labour was going ok but very very long.

All of a sudden babies heart dropped and I was rushed in for a crash section and told my DH couldn’t come. I was so shocked and upset-One minute I was having normal contractions the next I was being raced through the corridors to theatre- and I was frantically plotting how I could get my husband in the theatre.
I tried everything and was getting more and more panicked. They tried to put me under and I was trashing about, pulling off the mask, begging them not to start. Eventually The anesthetist took off the mask, held my arm and said “it’s ok. We’re going to loook after you”
For some reason that’s all it took to calm me down. It hadn’t really occurred to me they were there to help me before that.

I’ve found, in my limited experience, anesthetists are always amazing. I don’t know if that’s because you meet them
When you’re really desperate and they save you though 🤣

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 30/11/2018 20:41

The physiotherapist who sat with me when I was at my lowest, gave me a hug and said I could tell him anything and then listened very calmly to my reasons for wanting to kill myself and made sure I got the help I needed.

peachgreen · 30/11/2018 20:42

Midwife saved my life by telling me I could stop breastfeeding. HV saved my life by coming round when I was suicidal and just cuddling me until my husband and the crisis team arrived. I was very lucky to receive such fantastic support - I wouldn't have got through otherwise.

twoheaped · 30/11/2018 20:44

My dd had an accident at nursery.
She was operated on in the resus room of A&E.
She then needed to go twice weekly to the bandaging clinic for a month. There was only one nurse who staffed it and despite having a queue of people, she was absolutely brilliant with my dd. When we were finally discharged, I took in a card, wine and chocolates for her to thank her for being so lovely.

The doctor who operated on her, we bumped into him at Sainsbury's one weekend. He asked to look at the injury site as he remembered us, about 3 months on.
I was strangely touched that he remembered us

peachgreen · 30/11/2018 20:44

Also the anaesthetist who held my hand and distracted me while my baby was in trouble. I didn't even really know it was happening (I was on a lot of drugs) and I'm sure he's the reason I don't have worse birth trauma.

In general I've had fantastic care from healthcare staff in my life. I'm very grateful for them.

recently · 30/11/2018 20:45

A lovely midwife who told me that ds looked fine when my consultant was telling me the opposite.

ShannonRockallMalin · 30/11/2018 20:50

My lovely health visitor when I was struggling with DS1’s behaviour as a toddler. She told me I was a good mum. Just those words really reassured me and I have always remembered them. I understand she went on to help train other HVs so hopefully she was able to pass on her skills.

Also the fab male nurse who blew bubbles at DS2 and chatted to him about his pets when he was 4 and being put under for an operation. DS now 12 still remembers it.

My DH is a HCP so I know these are difficult jobs and makes me appreciate it so much when someone goes above and beyond.