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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Best behaviour you've encountered on a hospital ward

179 replies

amymel2016 · 13/04/2018 21:31

Just to offer some balance this evening...

I've had some amazing care from the NHS recently. Everything from the HCA who saved me a bed next to the window after I'd had my DS to the Consultant I saw last week who put my mind at ease about my most recent illness.

I also love the dinner lady who slipped me an extra ice cream!

OP posts:
Pinkmexicanskull · 13/04/2018 22:18

The amazing nurse who stroked my forehead and my hair whilst I had to have a Hysterosalpingogram for infertility. I had totally underestimated how painful it was going to be and had come to the theatre without my partner or mental preparation! As soon as I realised how horrible it was, the lovely nurse came from behind the X-ray screen to hold my hand and reassure me and chat to me, she was so kind.

PixieL · 13/04/2018 22:19

The paediatric nurse and HCA who, when my first DC was admitted with a septic arthritis at 3 weeks old and I was postnatal and sleeping on a busy children’s ward with him, came at 2am to feed him (he was bottlefed as we had struggled to BF, now we know this was largely due to the infection) and tucked me back in so I could sleep for just one or two hours more. Between the worry, discomfort and general sleep deprivation having someone think of me even though I wasn’t the patient was something I will always be grateful for.

CazM2012 · 13/04/2018 22:20

When being induced with my 3rd child I was in a 4 bed ward, all of us had been started at the same time but every baby was being stubborn. After our birth partners had been sent home as nothing was happening we all sat there behind our respective curtains, in silence, one lady was really upset.
In the end we all started actually speaking to each other and pulled back the curtains. 3 hours later the midwives came in to do obs and found us all sitting on the birthing balls having a great time sharing snacks and laughing away. It turned what can be a really horrible experience into a much better evening, all our babies ended up being born another 2 days later on the same day and we are still all in touch.
I know this isn’t about the staff (I could go in for days about amazing care from NHS staff) but just wanted to show that it’s not always a bad experience having people in the ward.

mineofuselessinformation · 13/04/2018 22:21

The nurses in ICU who took care of my dad - he ultimately died in another ward after being returned there (they didn't even know he had passed away when we arrived - that's a whole other story).
They were so kind and professional and calm.
My dsis is a nurse with huge responsibilities, so I've always been aware of the burden that such people carry, but this really brought it home to me what they just go through, especially in ICU, as their patients are so unlikely to recover. It must be a huge burden to carry.

TarquinGyrfalcon · 13/04/2018 22:25

The very gentle and kind nurse who held my hair back when I was vomiting after a general anaesthetic. He disappeared and came back with a hair bobble for me and proceeded to tie back my hair and stroke my back while I sobbed and vomited.

Eryri1981 · 13/04/2018 22:26

The a&e nurse who started 3 hours late on her shift to sit with the patient I had bought in by ambulance and calm him down every time he went into a panic attack... He had just been paralysed from the neck down in an accident at work.

Sparklycurtainpole · 13/04/2018 22:26

The wonderful consultant who bent the rules for OH and I to get started on fertility treatment which resulted in our beautiful eldest daughter.

The amazing midwife who after a 72 hour back to back labour, emcs and a dizzy cocktail of exhaustion and hormones, reassured me that I was not a failure as a woman having 'failed to get pregnant naturally and failed to give birth naturally'. She was Russian and formidable and simply said in a very strong Russian no nonsense accent 'pfffff, healthy baby, healthy mother - this is happy day! There is no failing here!' That mantra stayed with me throughout my next two pregnancies and c sections. She then went on to bathe both me and baby (we both looked like we'd just survived a scene in a disaster movie) with such efficiency, calmness, care and kindness that I've never felt so grateful.

The amazing consultant who actually took me seriously when I said my middle daughter had hearing problems. No one else was having any of it but I knew she did. Turns out her hearing is 100 times worse than average and she's had to have loads of surgery and treatment but but still be almost deaf if the lovely consultant hadn't listened to me when I said that her other special needs were obscuring the fact she might not be able to hear.

Eryri1981 · 13/04/2018 22:26

Stayed not started

Spamalotta · 13/04/2018 22:27

Cord prolapse experience here too and so much love and care shown by the crash team who dealt with it. I know my fabulous 3 year old wouldn't be here without them.

Fartootiredtobeawake · 13/04/2018 22:27

To all the lovely staff on the surgical assessment ward when I was very ill and admitted for 3 weeks. Honestly, could not fault the care I received.
The consultant was lovely too, saying to me ‘Fartootired, you are obviously an intelligent woman, who would have already researched into said condition...’ made me feel more than just a patient. For the doctor in the ward when I was admitted, making me laugh, despite being in serious pain. I have terrible veins and getting blood out of me is near impossible let alone getting a cannula in. He did both first time and was absolutely hysterical, made me feel so much better.

headinhands · 13/04/2018 22:27

The dr who said 'miracles happen' when every other professional had written ddad off after a heart attack.

nanny2012nanny · 13/04/2018 22:28

ALL the staff on my ward at Salisbury District Hospital when I was in for a week with a broken leg and major surgery.
The 3am cups of tea and hand holds will not be forgotten 💞💞

Mammyloveswine · 13/04/2018 22:29

I had a nasty breast abscess when ds1 was only 8 weeks old and was in hospital on my first mothers day. I got a full breakfast as a treat off the staff to cheer me up and my husband got given a Sunday lunch! Was actually really lovely!

Loveanamechange · 13/04/2018 22:29

The registrar who saw me when I came in with post surgery infections and treated me with such care and affection that I cried on her twice. She told me to come into A&E and ask for her to be paged any time I was concerned about it. Gave me her working hours and told me I knew my body best, and she would never be annoyed or think I was overreacting. It was purely down to her they were able to catch all three of them so quickly. I was so worried I was being a drama queen.

I nominated her for employee of the month. Bloody lovely woman.

Dunnoaboutthat · 13/04/2018 22:30

This thread is lovely. Restores the faith in humanity!

Mammyloveswine · 13/04/2018 22:30

Also the amazing nurse who assured me i could still breastfeed on the many meds i had... i gave her a card and chocs. She was just amazing!

flowerslemonade · 13/04/2018 22:31

the ward sister who stood up for me against a doctor and fought for appropriate treatment, fought for me to stay on that ward instead of them giving up, that hospital stay may have saved my life.

thank you izzie.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 13/04/2018 22:32

The medical student who challenged her consultant when she spotted a mistake in my care. The consultant for actually listening to her.

crunchymint · 13/04/2018 22:34

The amazing HCA who served breakfasts, drinks and took meal orders. She was so cheerful and really made a difference to the ward.

QueenofLouisiana · 13/04/2018 22:35

The staff on the children’s ward who made sure I had a basic collection of things to wash and change into when he was admitted as an emergency. I was jet- lagged, hadn’t washed for 36 hours (flown in long haul that morning, had been home long enough to dump the cases and phone my GP- returned home 8 days later). The staff who gave me “spare” food at 1am. When DS was finally in a drugged sleep and I realised I hadn’t eaten for bearly24 hours. The same staff who helped me get my bad ready every night so I could sleep next to him and hold his hand for the 3am drugs round.

The consultant who, a couple of days later, wanted to examine DS and collected him and DH from the playroom. They found me fast asleep on DS’s bed and just left me alone.

Their kindness meant a great deal.

BestIsWest · 13/04/2018 22:37

The HCAs (female and male) who looked after me when I had a serious accident and had to wash and wipe me down. They were so gentle and respectful and generally lovely.

crunchymint · 13/04/2018 22:38

Caz My DP was in for a week and became really good friends with someone else on the ward. They were both in for complicated orthopaedics, but both felt well and were bored stiff, so it was lifesaver.

Bagsalot · 13/04/2018 22:42

This is very lovely to read . I'm a ward sister and this week has been long, not unduly hard but exhausting nevertheless. Nothing ever seems good enough most days. It's so nice to hear that we are getting it right some times!

HarshingMyMellow · 13/04/2018 22:44

An old school nurse who looked after me when I had sepsis from a kidney infection. I honestly thought my time was up. I was being pumped with copious amounts of fluid, antibiotics and strong painkillers and started to hallucinate.

She sat by me, holding my hand and reassuring me that it was all going to be okay. She made sure I was comfortable and once I had calmed down, tucked me in. She stroked my hair and came to check on me every half an hour or so, until her shift ended.

I will never forget her. An absolute angel.

Eryri1981 · 13/04/2018 22:44

The head ICU consultant who took me to the staff room and made me a cup of tea when he saw me looking totally bewildered and devastated when I came up to icu to follow up on the boy I had attended to as a cardiac arrest the week before. The boy was starting to show signs of being massively brain damaged, it was probably the worse possible outcome. He sat me down and talk to me, that incident still haunts me a decade later but thanks to him I was able to find the strength to carry on in my chosen profession.