Colleagues on the new Short Stay Frailty Unit at HRI impressed a family so much with the individualised care for their Auntie Nellie, that they wrote a heartfelt thanks to the team and sent them some sweet treats.

Generally, patients who are admitted to the unit on Ward 3 stay for around three days until they are transferred to another CHFT ward, or to the place they call home.

But in the case of Nellie, the team recognised quickly that she was deteriorating and would need palliative care.

To avoid moving the patient, or causing extra stress for Nellie and her loved ones, the team quickly came up with an individualised care plan which was agreed with the patient and her family. This meant she received the care she needed on the unit until she moved to a care home, at her request, to spend her last few days with her family around her.

Matron, Charlotte Bowdell, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of the way that the team, and Ward Manager Tara Leach in particular, worked with Nellie and her family entirely in her best interests. This is person-centred care at its very best. It meant that when Nellie was ready, she chose to move to a care home to be surrounded by the people she loved, rather than sadly dying in hospital.

“The whole team showed real empathy and built strong bonds with the whole family."

Main image: Trevor Goldring, Dave Hershman, Tara Leach, Charlotte Bowdell and Charlotte Raynor

The words in the card read:

To the Ward 3 Team,

Thank you for looking after our much loved Auntie Nell so very well.

The care and compassion shown to her during her recent stay, has been exemplary, and the kindness extended to us, her family, has been much appreciated.

Please accept the attached as a token of our thanks.

Linda and Michael (on behalf of Nellie's family)