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

[Thisisit777]

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?

Yes, lots of them, most days. They are my colleagues and I am part of an amazing team that I am so proud of.
But that is not what you mean really, is it?

More relevant to your question, the school nurse who let me sit there in her room week after week almost silent while she talked and I cried and occasionally nodded or shook my head. It took her a long time to gain my trust, persuade me to write it down as I obviously wasn't going to start talking, convinced me to see my GP, drove me to CAMHS appointments so I had time to get there (pretty sure she shouldn't really have done that and it was definitely beyond the job description), maintained my confidentiality probably helped by the fact I didn't go to her until I had just turned 16, and got me through GCSEs and A levels when I didn't really have anyone else to turn to. It is now 18 years since I left school, and I still wish I could somehow get it touch, say thank you and let her know that I am now doing well, but she doesn't work at the school anymore so I don't know how to find her.

Feeling acutely suicidal due to work bullying earlier this year. Emergency GP appointment. GP told me I was worth more than that, and to get another job, and I would be fine. He was right, I did, and I am. Thank you Dr Stones. I did not want to follow his advice, but I did, and life is worth living again.

Yes, a midwife that I met in my first pregnancy, she went above and beyond her duty to help me through when I bled for three solid weeks, I thought every day I was losing my baby, she let me pop in anytime and she'd listen to baby's heart to reassure me. She was amazing with my next two pregnancies too. She's now a friend. Amazing woman.

A wonderful midwife who was working the night following the birth of my firstborn. I had had a dreadful labour and lost (although didn't know at the time) 3 pints of blood (was given a transfusion 3 days later). Anyhow I was sat in my bed with my baby boy in the cot next to me feeling as though I should be feeding him - he hadn't had anything and I didn't know what to do about it. I literally staggered up to the nurses station carrying my baby and asked for some formula. The midwife guided me back to bed and asked if I wanted to formula feed and I said that I wanted to breastfeed but didn't know how. She said not to worry about it for tonight and showed me her ID and suggested she hold my baby while I go wash and clean my teeth - which I hadn't done since the day before. I remember her standing in the dim light next to my bed cradling my boy and smiling at me in such a motherly way - my own mum was 300 miles away. She settled us both down - actually popped him in bed next to me and gave me info abut co-sleeping. My baby and I spent the night gazing at each other and the midwife continued to check on us both through the night. (I did manage to breastfeed him for 2.7 years)

My GP for ten years was/is an absolute angel and still one of the people I trust the most in the world , very fortunate to have met her .

The physiotherapist who believed me when I told her I was sexually assaulted and gave me a hug and referred me for extra help .

Also last week , had a major panic attack at university . Pacing around campus in blind terror until I found a bit of grass that was quiet, sat down and phoned uni student support office . A security guard (first aide) took me to see an occupational health nurse , who gave me a cup of tea and biscuits and hand holding whilst she phoned numerous people. Let me sit in a ‘well-being room’ with cushions, sofa etc to try and calm down a bit .

First aider then walked me to the next building to see a mental health nurse , whilst I waited on the nurse her receptionist sat with me talking to me and giving me glasses of water .

Mental health nurse spoke to me for forty mins, rang my GP who told me to come up so they could give me a sedative . Also rang a relative and staff at my accommodation and my personal tutor. GP gave me diazepam , pharmacist then gave me water so I could take the tablets there and then before making sure I had a taxi home .

Still quite stunned by how coordinated all of that was , and how kind and caring they all were . Thanks to them I am able to keep going - albeit very baby steps !!

We've gone from a specialist consultant that is arrogant, rude and blunt to one who is kind, gentle, thorough and actually listens and follows up carefully, I really rate him.
Our local team of health care professionals are amazing, truly like a second family, it's the one good thing to come from DS's disease.

I had a complicated pregnancy and my consultant was excellent. She was very kind and obviously great at her job. I'll never forget her. Also one of the midwives who looked after me after I had DS. She was lovely. I still remember her hugging me when I had been in hospital for days and feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything (hormones didn't help!).

I’ve not had a poor experience of GPS and NHS care either for me or my family

But in terms of human kindness it is the nurse who brought me a cup of tea as I was sitting next to my dad who had just died in ICU , and touched me on the shoulder in a small gesture of comfort as she left me with his body . I don’t think I’ve ever needed a cuppa more than then and I can still feel her touch even years later .

My son's consultant. At a crisis point in our lives she helped us all in ways she probably doesn't even know. I think she's an angel.

Yes!

When DD was 12 month she spent a scary 2 weeks in hospital on HDU then general Ward and spent her first birthday in there too. I'd not long returned to work from Mat leave so didn't have annual leave to take so me and DH were both working, taking bits of unpaid leave while making sure someone was always with DD. Id done a three day stretch in the hospital sleeping on the crap camp bed next to her, knackered and emotional. The next day DD wouldn't eat, was unsettled, they gave her some medication which she projectile vomited all over me while we had a quiet morning cuddle. That set me off, I was in tears, no clean clothes and there was this lovely lovely nurse who we hadn't come across while we'd been there for what was almost a week now. She was the first person to ask me my name and actually call me by it rather than just 'mum' or '(DDs name)'s mum'. She got me some scrubs to wear and made me a lovely brew and all through her shift she bobbed in to make sure I was ok. I'm tearing up writing this, but now nearly 6 years later I still remember her name. She was just fab!

So many.

The consultant gynae that saw me when I was having my first miscarriage. She was so kind and clear. I later saw her when I was pregnant with my first living child and she held my hand as I cried and told her how scared I was. The student nurse that held me whilst I sobbed during medical management. The paramedics that took me to A&E, warmed the saline in their jackets so it didn’t make me cold when it went through the IV, stayed well after their shift to hand me over properly. An A&E nurse that cleaned me and helped me gain some dignity back. The doctor that held my hand the day after the haemorrhage. I don’t remember clearly (worst hangover of my life!) but he felt for my pulse and just held on to my hand to comfort me whilst the team we’re talking.

Excellent midwives at the birth of my first child. They trusted me and my instincts 100% and in turn I trusted them. A maternity support worker that was very matter of fact about breastfeeding and gave me just the right encouragement at the right time, to help me persevere.

A GP registrar that gave me a voice to finally seek help for depression. I couldn’t speak in the first appointment, DH had to speak for me. She was so patient and was just as kind and patient at every appointment thereafter.

A nurse when my husband was unconscious in hospital, who stayed with me, made me tea and spoke to me on the phone through the day and night.

All the A&E staff I’ve ever encountered if I’ve had to take my children.

We’ve been very lucky.

Please let the medical staff who've made a difference to you know.

I've received a few letters over the years and it makes a difference and reinforces why we do what we do ❤️

Yes, three in particular.

The student midwife that tried to tell the midwife my baby was back to back. No one listened to her. My baby was born a long time later with forceps still 'stargazing'. I hope she has a long and happy career following her intuition.

A surgical nurse who held my hand when I had a BP crash after a section and basically sat guard over me and my baby for an hour after that.

A wonderful nurse who was so very, very kind to my 9 month old DD and me when I had to hold her down for IV antibiotics. (She was so small the needle kept coming out, it went on and on). When she finished her shift, she came back twenty minutes later with a toy for DD she had purchased from the shop with her own money.

The midwife who delivered DD1, who was stillborn. It must have been horrible for her, but she was kind and compassionate throughout. I was too distraught at the time to thank her properly.

The two community midwives when i was pregnant with DD2, who both offered to see me as often as i needed to help with my anxiety, and one of whom saved DD2 life by ordering me to hospital at 34 weeks when i called her in a panic saying the baby hadn't moved all morning.

My GP who saw me at my 6 week check, having only had DD home for 2 weeks, asked me how i was doing and sorted out CPN care, group therapy and hospital referrals when i promptly burst into tears and couldn't stop. She pretty much took me under her wing, seeing me regularly until one day i was able to say to her "i feel like me again". Just having someone on my side, willing to find whatever support was out there and put me forward for it, gently encouraging me towards a healthier outcome. She's still my GP, and she's a bloody superstar.

No dentists on the thread yet??
I love my dentist. She takes her time, always explains everything and if she over runs, no one in the waiting room ever cares as they know she would do it for them. She doesn’t scrimp on anaesthetic or pain relief, and has never ever caused me any reason to be scared of her or a procedure (and I’ve had lots!)

Beyond measure. The consultant who ensured I got the treatment I needed to stay pregnant. Without his expertise and support with lots of scans and the correct medication, I wouldn't have my DD. He was the only person I felt really listened to me during five long years of infertility and recurrent miscarriage. I am so, so grateful to him.

Some lovely stories.

Mine is the Speech Therapist who saw DS, she was fantastic and it was her that referred him for his ASD assessment. She has since retired but I bumped into her a few years later and it was fantastic to be able to Thank her for what she did.

As a professional, I never expect any Thanks, but I hope that my short intervention at that time has made a positive impact on people, I can't always do what they want me to do, but I hope I can still have a positive impact. I may not have a long lasting impression on them, but I do know that I have done things that have helped people have a much better quality of life.

2 midwives. The one on postnatal who, 48 hours after dd1 started screaming every time she was put in the light box, came in, said “this isn’t working is it!” Took the lightbox our the room, tucked dd in bed with me, made me a cup of tea and told me I was doing a great job.

There was also the one who worked for the birth reflections service who listened, believed me and supported me in complaining about the appalling care i’d had in early labour.

When I had my c-section the surgeon who was saving mine and my baby’s life was completely understanding and supportive of my irrational concern that my scar would look untidy. There were much bigger things at stake but she listened to my panicked whinging and promised me it would be neat. And it was.

Yes...

When my Nan died I rang the mortuary as I wanted to kiss her head one last time before I drove 160 miles home. I rang the on call mortuary technician who was at another hospital 8 miles away. He drove back to the other hospital in his lunch break and got my Nan ready so I could have that previous 10 minutes with her, to kiss her, rub her head, hold her hand and say goodbye.

Absolutely priceless. And I never got to know his name x

Absolutely.
I haemorrhaged after my DS was born. It was life-threatening and I was transfused 11pts of blood plus platelets over the next 12 hours.
The nurse who cared for me throughout that night was beyond priceless.
I've never forgotten her expertise and care.
I did thank her afterwards, but thanks seemed inadequate.

Wow, there are some really moving stories on this thread.

For me it's the two paramedics who brought me back to life when I had a heart attack. They both came to see me in the CCU in the days afterwards. One of them had had a heart attack too and he was brilliant just chatting to me and reassuring me. They were able to fill in the blanks of what happened when I lost consciousness which I think helped psychologically. I think about them daily, over 3 years later.
Also, the cardiac rehabilitation team were amazing, so kind and encouraging. And the cardiologist who spent far longer with her patients in the outpatients clinic than our allotted time. I never felt annoyed at having to wait to see her because she was so thorough in the appointment.
Wonderful wonderful people. All of them 💕💕

One of mine was the wonderful calming paramedic who kept me breathing in the ambulance whilst en route to hospital, waited with me in resus whilst I was stabilised before being rushed off onto another job, then at the end of his shift made a point of coming up to see me on the ward. I don’t remember his name unfortunately, but I do remember him going out of his way for me.

Another person who comes to mind is a superb critical care nurse whom I can remember only by her name and voice because I wasn’t conscious/alert enough to see her much (Holly in PACU at UCH, this is about you). I was utterly dependent, shocked by the enormity of my emergency surgery, and in a huge amount of pain, but her tenderness and devoted care made me feel as safe as a newborn in a mother’s arms.

I do always write nice thank you notes. I’ve needed a lot of medical & surgical care in the last couple of years, and one of the essential items in my hospital bag is a pack of nice notecards for thankyous.

Also the midwife who came and held DD on her 2nd night when she wouldn't stop crying so I could get a precious half an hour's sleep. It was amazing.

And the pharmacy assistant who, when we called from a traffic jam panicking because we wouldn't make it in time to collect DD's prescription before they closed, delivered it to our door on her way home from work.

The midwife who stayed with me and held my hand while I had an emergency C Section with DS.

The paramedics and A&E Drs who saved my dad's life when he had a heart attack.