Tina Wright
October 2021
Tina J
Wright
,
RGN
Critical Care Unit
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Sutton in Ashfield
,
Nottinghamshire
United Kingdom
From the moment J was admitted to the Unit, she was treated with love, dignity, and compassion, and my sister and J’s dad were treated exactly the same.
I work here at Kings Mill Hospital and have always felt proud to be part of team SF and work amongst dedicated, caring, and compassionate people, but last week I viewed Kings Mill Hospital and its staff as a member of the public and I want to tell you my story.
My beautiful 19-year-old niece was rushed into the ED department by the paramedics and air ambulance medic, all of whom were outstanding in their care. The ED staff then took over and the compassion they showed J’s mum (my sister) and dad were amazing, keeping them informed of everything that was happening (they were in a side room) whilst the staff were working on resuscitating J. She was then transferred to the Critical Care Unit.
From the moment J was admitted to the Unit, she was treated with love, dignity, and compassion, and my sister and J’s dad were treated exactly the same. The nursing staff hugged, talked, and cried with my sister. Nothing was too much trouble and whilst all the staff was amazing, Tina, Ward Leader, was among some of the amazing nurses that went above and beyond in looking after her.
My sister told me later that Tina came back onto the unit on her day off to check not only on J and her family but also her staff as J’s age and circumstances of how she came to be admitted had affected them all – what an amazing person and staff leader! The Receptionist, Nursing staff, and Doctors all took time to speak to the family and explain what was happening; they were available to speak to whenever we wanted and could not have done any more than they did.
The Doctors and Ward Leader took J’s mum and dad into a private room to explain J’s prognosis, the tests they would be doing, and what was going to happen over the following few days. The respect and dignity they showed could not have been any more had it been their own family they were speaking to. As a family, we were told that my niece had no brain function and we were given time to say our goodbyes and when the time came for the machines to be switched off, a few of us were allowed to stay to be with her at the end.
Whilst all of this was happening, Tina quietly spoke to my sister and her dad, telling them what she was doing and reminding them how and why and what to expect to happen next. When my niece passed away shortly after the machines were switched off, the nursing staff didn’t feel like strangers but like part of our family. I believe I actually witnessed my sister’s heartbreaking, but Tina continued to care about her and talked quietly and softly and for this, I will be forever grateful.
My sister was given the chance to lie with her daughter and have some private, quiet time before having to leave her, but Tina assured that she herself would ‘put J to bed’ for us and it was only because of her, that my sister was able to leave her precious child behind. All of this was after Tina was supposed to have finished her shift, but she stayed to be with us all at the end and then made sure that before we left the hospital, we had a hot drink and she sat and talked to us about J. I have no idea what time Tina actually finished her shift, but all of this was above and beyond and showed, yet again, the dedication and compassion of this lady.
None of this has been easy to write, but I wanted, no actually, I needed, you to know what truly wonderful, amazing people you have working here at Kings Mill Hospital. Our family has been left devastated and heartbroken, but we know that everything, and more, was done for my niece, and for that, I can't thank you and our wonderful colleagues enough.
My beautiful 19-year-old niece was rushed into the ED department by the paramedics and air ambulance medic, all of whom were outstanding in their care. The ED staff then took over and the compassion they showed J’s mum (my sister) and dad were amazing, keeping them informed of everything that was happening (they were in a side room) whilst the staff were working on resuscitating J. She was then transferred to the Critical Care Unit.
From the moment J was admitted to the Unit, she was treated with love, dignity, and compassion, and my sister and J’s dad were treated exactly the same. The nursing staff hugged, talked, and cried with my sister. Nothing was too much trouble and whilst all the staff was amazing, Tina, Ward Leader, was among some of the amazing nurses that went above and beyond in looking after her.
My sister told me later that Tina came back onto the unit on her day off to check not only on J and her family but also her staff as J’s age and circumstances of how she came to be admitted had affected them all – what an amazing person and staff leader! The Receptionist, Nursing staff, and Doctors all took time to speak to the family and explain what was happening; they were available to speak to whenever we wanted and could not have done any more than they did.
The Doctors and Ward Leader took J’s mum and dad into a private room to explain J’s prognosis, the tests they would be doing, and what was going to happen over the following few days. The respect and dignity they showed could not have been any more had it been their own family they were speaking to. As a family, we were told that my niece had no brain function and we were given time to say our goodbyes and when the time came for the machines to be switched off, a few of us were allowed to stay to be with her at the end.
Whilst all of this was happening, Tina quietly spoke to my sister and her dad, telling them what she was doing and reminding them how and why and what to expect to happen next. When my niece passed away shortly after the machines were switched off, the nursing staff didn’t feel like strangers but like part of our family. I believe I actually witnessed my sister’s heartbreaking, but Tina continued to care about her and talked quietly and softly and for this, I will be forever grateful.
My sister was given the chance to lie with her daughter and have some private, quiet time before having to leave her, but Tina assured that she herself would ‘put J to bed’ for us and it was only because of her, that my sister was able to leave her precious child behind. All of this was after Tina was supposed to have finished her shift, but she stayed to be with us all at the end and then made sure that before we left the hospital, we had a hot drink and she sat and talked to us about J. I have no idea what time Tina actually finished her shift, but all of this was above and beyond and showed, yet again, the dedication and compassion of this lady.
None of this has been easy to write, but I wanted, no actually, I needed, you to know what truly wonderful, amazing people you have working here at Kings Mill Hospital. Our family has been left devastated and heartbroken, but we know that everything, and more, was done for my niece, and for that, I can't thank you and our wonderful colleagues enough.