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Original poster

Small actions of HCPs that make you feel better

58 replies

GladysGeorgina · 20/03/2022 23:22

For some reason today I was thinking about times I’ve felt comforted by small actions of HCPs. I’ve had a few invasive investigations recently so maybe that’s why:
Nurse bringing me a blanket and draping it round my shoulders when I was sitting next to my unconscious DH in ICU (he made a full recovery btw)
After a particularly difficult endoscopy the nurse noticed I was a bit hot and bothered and put a cool cloth on my forehead
After spinal surgery I was feeling quite overwhelmed. One of the student nurses brought a little table onto the ward and sat and did his paperwork. I found his quiet presence very reassuring.

Anyone else care to share little actions that have made a difference? Many thanks to all the hardworking HCPs out there.

OP posts:

Rummikub · 21/03/2022 01:56

Oh another
The surgeon who removed my tumour cane to see how I was next day.

starsinyourpies · 21/03/2022 01:59

@mowly77 I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Fuck cancer.

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 21/03/2022 02:20

When DS was only 3 weeks old and had suspected meningitis and needed an LP. The paeds nurse said 'you can stay with him whilst we do it but I don't recommend it. Please let me take good care of him and I'll bring him back safely' and she took him and held him so sweetly that I felt I could trust her and she did indeed bring him back safe and sound, sleeping and very professionally swaddled. I never regretted not going in with him because of her. I think she was right that I did not need to see him in pain being held down and stabbed with an LP needle.

Also the A&E sister who recognised me from my many attendances to see patients in her department and got me a side room when I had to go there as a patient with a GI bleed although I had not asked or tried to pull the staff card in any way. It was a lot nicer not having people you know able to stare at you when you are ill. I also felt confident she would fend off anyone who was just curious from reading my notes which rather shockingly happened in a previous admission.

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Rememberallball · 21/03/2022 03:15

The dr on night shift the night my DM was admitted to ITU who, knowing I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew she was stable, went and found me a very precious pillow (I later found out it was from the on call room he’d been allocated so was literally ‘his’ pillow) and got me a hot blanket from a warming cabinet so I could at least rest even if I didn’t manage sleep that night - didn’t see him again before she died 11 days later so never got to thank him for such small acts of kindness

rollingmeadows · 21/03/2022 04:27

The lovely nurse who spent considerable time unraveling tubes and lines to put a happy, girly, daisy inspired singlet on my 7month old daughter who had spent 4 weeks in PICU.

GoodnightJude1 · 21/03/2022 05:44

I was taken in to hospital by ambulance a few months ago. It’s a fairly regular occurrence unfortunately.
I can vaguely remember the paramedics that attended on this occasion and I remember feeling so relieved and safe when they arrived. Amidst the horrendous pain I was in I remember crying to then saying how awful I felt that my DC would arrive home from school (secondary) and I wouldn’t be here…how I hated the thought they’d be upset before I had a chance to contact them and let them know I’m ok.

When I rang to speak to the kids later that day they told me that the paramedics had left them a lovely note in the kitchen telling them that they’d taken me hospital but I’d be fine and not to worry.
It was such a small thing but it meant so much that they’d taken the time to write this little note.

Having been in and out of hospital so much over the years I’ve met some truly incredible HCP. Especially lately whilst they’ve been so busy and under pressure

haveaglassofwine · 21/03/2022 07:12

Such a beautiful thread, there are some people who go above and beyond and probably never know that the tiny things they did made such a difference.
My mum passed away at home two weeks ago, we had an amazing hospice at home team that visited twice a day for the last few days. the evening before mum passed mum had a syringe driver fitted and was sedated etc the team visited mum and while carrying out their checks still spoke to mum as they would have done if she had been awake, giving her the dignity she would have wanted.
When she passed away the team visited an hour later and got her ready for the funeral director to collect her, they took two flowers from the vase by her bed and put them on the pillow next to her, they had no idea they were her favourite flowers that she had had in her wedding bouquet many years before, it was such a beautiful thing to have done at the saddest time and something that will stay with me forever.

Original poster

GladysGeorgina · 21/03/2022 07:18

Lovely to wake up to these tales of kindness. Sometimes the smallest gestures can mean so much. Another from me - when my lovely GP took the time to carefully explain growing pains to my 6yo ds and reassured him he was fine. Made a huge difference to him as he was a terrible worrier at the time.

OP posts:

Jellycatspyjamas · 21/03/2022 07:21

My DD (10) was in hospital for surgery recently, the consultant sat with her for ages explaining the surgery and answering her questions - she has learning difficulties which meant she needed things explained a number of times and he was patient and kind to her. The Porter who took her to theatre laughed and giggled with her all the way there, singing songs and generally helping her not feel nervous.

And yes, a discretely dropped off latte while I sat waiting for her to wake was very welcome.

Finally the same consultant phoned me at home a week later after she presented at A&E with a post op infection. She was treated and back home but the consultant just wanted to check on her and make sure she was responding to medication. Her care has been outstanding- every person she came into contact with was so caring of her.

carefullycourageous · 21/03/2022 07:24

Asking 'are you happy to go ahead' before doing something invasive.

Sounds really obvious but the number of horrible nurses who do not do this is still unacceptably high.

Neolara · 21/03/2022 07:25

The sonographer who gave me a hug after doing the scan that revealed my third or fourth miscarriage.

Maggiesgirl · 21/03/2022 07:37

Having to stay overnight at the hospital on my DFs last night. The nurses on palliative care went and got me a car pass do I didn't have to go and get change for parking. Found me shampoo and bodywork so I coukd have a shower - I lived 2 hours away - and finally sent me to sleep for a hour while someone sat with DF.

Never forget their kindness and the way they lovely treated me after Dad died.

Lovelydovey · 21/03/2022 07:44

The nurse who was with my dad when he died sought me out weeks later when my mum was in hospital to hug me and tell me how much joy he had brought to the ward.

The nurse who had barged into the room my mum was dying in and announced it was time for her medication, only to be told by me to bog off as she had refused further medication sought me out to apologise for her insensitivity (she had t known).

Lovelydovey · 21/03/2022 07:46

And the palliative care consultant who rang a week after my dad died to see how I was and to tell me how sorry she was that he had gone.

LunaTheCat · 21/03/2022 07:51

This is lovely.
I am a healthcare worker - I try so hard and work hard and are but sometimes you say the wrong thing, unconsciously not be the person that your patient needs you to be. We are just human too.
All the thank you cards and letters I have kept over the years -I sometimes think of them when I am not having a good day.

BertieBotts · 21/03/2022 07:59

Was in hospital in my early 20s with severe UTI. Terrified, very upset by the anticoagulant injections which I found very painful, and wanted my mum. A nurse sat down with me, told me it was the end of her shift and she was tired and chatted a bit, then went and raided the lunchboxes for leftover kitkats :o I didn't realise until later that the end of her shift meant she'd been working for twelve hours. The fact she had energy left to be kind and positive towards me was lovely.

When DS2 was born he had to go into NICU. We lived in Germany. When they heard we spoke English at home some of the staff opted to speak to him in English "so he would understand". I thought that was lovely. So many people would assume it didn't matter.

Bbq1 · 21/03/2022 08:02

When I was in ICU after cancer surgery I wasn't eating well. I saw a plate of sausages and chips arrive and asked the nurse if I could have it please. She willingly gave it to me and i later found out it was her lunch she had ordered (I didn't know this att) but because I fancied it she gave it up. The worst thing was that when it came to it, I couldn't eat it. What a selfless act though. So kind. I have never forgotten that. Many other acts of kindness from HCP'S but that stands out. Staff in ICU are absolute heroes.

turnthebiglightoff · 21/03/2022 08:02

The lovely young Scottish anaesthetist who held my hand and told me I was very brave just before surgery for a 13 week missed miscarriage earlier this year.

The 2 nurses who stroked my arm and my hair as I was being put to sleep. I was super emotional and they were just so kind and gentle.

The Surgeon had come to see me beforehand and explained how they "remove the miscarriage" (and used that word several times) which had upset me so much - I'd already seen the heartbeat twice at early scans and had a bit of a bump, so to me it was very much a "baby" at this stage. The actions of the HCP's in Theatre made me feel so much more at ease and like a human who was going through a loss.

turnthebiglightoff · 21/03/2022 08:03

The lovely young Scottish anaesthetist who held my hand and told me I was very brave just before surgery for a 13 week missed miscarriage earlier this year.

The 2 nurses who stroked my arm and my hair as I was being put to sleep. I was super emotional and they were just so kind and gentle.

LouLou198 · 21/03/2022 08:14

What a lovely thread. I have been a nurse for 20 years this year. I have done many of these things. It's really nice to know little things have made such a difference to people and provided comfort in difficult times.
I remember myself being very frightened during my emergency c section and a midwife holding my hand, and another who stayed way past her shift time as she wanted to know baby had arrived safely. She even came to see me the day after on the post natal ward. Makes me a bit teary just thinking about it!

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 21/03/2022 08:18

The nurses when I was in for gallbladder surgery were all lovely. I particularly remember them comforting a lady in the same ward who was distressed and in pain. They were so calm and gentle and reassuring. They treated everyone like that, it was amazing!

Special notice has to go to the nurse who was on triage duty whilst I was waiting in A&E with what turned out to be a bad gallbladder. I don't know how she was so patient. I could hear most of the conversations she had with incoming patients and had I been in her shoes I'd probably have been quite rude to many of them! But she was cool, calm and collected. She also kept an eye on me as I was waiting and made sure I was given pain relief.

I did find a feedback page online for the hospital and made sure to let them know how awesome they all were.

comfortablyfrumpy · 21/03/2022 08:24

The nurse who made fantastic smalltalk to try to distract me from a rather painful hysteroscopy last week - and made me a cup of tea afterwards.

Maltesters · 21/03/2022 08:26

My very lovely GP. I recently had to have an internal exam and I find these incredibly difficult due to a history of sexual abuse.

The surgery has been running with 1 or 2 doctors at best due to covid so she must be stressed up to her eyeballs however she was really calm and reassuring and didn't rush our appointment which helped my anxiety massively. (I have severe health anxiety)

The exam triggered some really bad flash backs and I started panic. She could clearly see I was getting distressed and came up to my level and looked me straight in the eyes with the kindest glare I have ever seen and this instantly grounded me. I probably would have went into full blown panic if she hadn't have done this.

She has also been the first doctor to ever take my extremely painful periods seriously and actually listened to me then referred me for further testing. I cried in the car after that appointment with tears of joy.

Maggiesgirl · 21/03/2022 08:26

The wonderful wonderful midwife, who 10 years apart sat with me when both my prem babies died. She remembered my first name ( unusual where we lived) although my surname had changed from when i has DS2 at 30 weeks. She delivered both and then sat with me for ages after.

I saw her in the street one day a year later and we stayed in touch until Carol died 36 years later. She was my solace in the dark.

wasiwrongtoask · 21/03/2022 08:27

My DD had 8 hours of surgery when she was 18 months old and went into ICU after. I didn't want to leave her but the male nurse could see I was so tired. Told me that she was the only patient allocated to him that night and had a desk and chair at the foot of her bed. He also told me that he was the most expensive babysitter she would ever have and got someone to book me a hotel right across the road. He made me trust him enough to go and sleep so that when she regained consciousness I was there for her

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