18 months after completing cancer treatment I was admitted to hospital for abdominal pain. I was still suffering trauma from the cancer experience and had avoided medical treatment because of a crippling fear of hospitals and scans. On my first morning on the ward Nina noticed how frightened I was during the consultant ward round. She came back to me and kindly asked me if I was ok. I explained to her that for me groups of consultants meant cancer diagnosis and that I was terrified. I felt so stupid and pathetic, expecting her to brush off my fears as those of a neurotic healthy person. Nina knelt down next to me and looked seriously at me. She said, “None of the doctors have suggested anything at all that way. Everything they have points to gallstones”. It was such a simple, factual response but it meant the world to me. She took me seriously and it was just what I needed to hear. After that conversation, Nina came to see me regularly to check how I was and reassure me. She offered me practical suggestions such as the option to see the consultant as an individual rather than with the large groups on a ward round.

She also proactively asked one of the doctors to consider a diazepam prescription to help me with the fear of the MRI triggering flashbacks to my cancer treatment. She would check my results when they came through and just give me a heads up that cancer was not mentioned in the notes. That meant I could bear to wait for the results without the fear of cancer being the answer. All of this may seem minor but for me it was huge. I avoided coming to hospital until my gallstone pain had turned to an infection because I was so frightened. Nina helped me to stay where I needed to be and has made me less fearful of seeking medical help in the future. I won’t forget the kindness and patience that she showed to me and every single other patient on ward 28 while I was there. Even when people seemed to be demanding her attention constantly. Thank you, Nina.