May 2023
Helen
Thatcher
,
RN
Dawlish Community Hospital
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Torbay
,
Devon
United Kingdom
I am so grateful for Helen acted swiftly and professionally, she and the team of nurses, doctors, and healthcare assistants saved my life.
Helen was working as on a call manager for the hospital during the weekend when I became unwell. Although she was not working on the Surgical Receiving Unit, she stepped in to recognise that I was deteriorating after my operation and stayed on to lead and advocate for my care. She went above and beyond on that day, the worry and concern she showed me will stay with me forever. Helen realised very quickly that I was becoming unwell when my blood pressure dropped. She coordinated this with compassion, care, and sensitivity. Although I was drifting in and out of consciousness, I remember Helen, and the wonderful nurses and health care assistants working tirelessly. This helped me feel calm and reassured me that I was going to be ok. Being a nurse myself, I understood that I was very poorly. I am so grateful for Helen acted swiftly and professionally, she and the team of nurses, doctors, and healthcare assistants saved my life. She came by to see me in recovery, just to check that I was ok. Helen was a member of staff who was leading an entire hospital that Saturday. She showed me individual care and compassion. She demonstrated leadership on another level, one that is inspired. I am so thankful and grateful for the wonderful care I was given. Helen you went above and beyond your duty and I will never forget it. How it was done, and how I was made to feel is hard to put into words. I will never forget how I was made to feel. I felt loved and cared about, at a very frightening time. Thank you