If you missed Brendan’s Brief on Friday, here’s Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children, Natalie Wood’s, full written compliment to Ward 18 and the Hospital Palliative Care Team. Natalie’s dad Roosevelt, known as Roosie, died last month and she wanted to share the whole family’s thanks with the teams who cared for him.

Here are her Natalie's words:

"We were kept updated by staff on Ward 18 along the way, as well as being involved in decision making and the care that my dad needed, ensuring that he was comfortable when he was nearing end of life.   

Some extended thank yous to nurses allocated to Roosie, including but not limited to Shelley, and the housekeeper whose name escapes us. The HCAs were tentative to his needs, and responsive to the extended family and friends who were given the space and opportunity to spend time with Roosie before he died.  His grandchildren will be particularly grateful for this.  He celebrated his last birthday on the ward, which was celebrated by loved ones, but the ward also supported and made this special and memorable for him at the time, and for us to remember following his parting. 

The consultant that attended both the Thursday and the Friday was sensitive to our needs as a family, taking on board our observations, and responding to my dad’s health needs, particularly when we were concerned about him being agitated or uncomfortable. 

As a family we were given permission to stay with him overnight and that will serve as a lasting comfort as we learn to live a life without him.

We also want to take the time to thank the Palliative Care Team for the care and attention given to the family, and the time taken to ensure that he remained comfortable in the final stages of his life.   

Although it was a sad time for us, we understood the importance of the Palliative Team, and recognised that although this was something that we had hoped to avoid, it had become inevitable, and we accepted that my father's life was sadly coming to an end.  What cannot be appreciated at the time is how wholly consumed you become in the moment and you start to neglect the basic necessities of life. 

The Palliative Care Team met the emotional needs of the family, whilst also ensuring that my dad remained comfortable at all times.  Seeing my dad rested, and at peace was important for us, as we knew that this would be our last memories of him.  The team provided a comfort pack with day-to-day vitals, but what was more touching than this was the knitted hearts that were provided to each of us to take home as a lasting keepsake for us, and when there hadn't been enough, the team were on hand to provide more without hesitation.

I would like to mention names, so I hope I have remembered correctly, Gemma, Rose, and Adele, all exceptional and second to none.  As much as I know Gemma outside of work, I know that her care and attention wasn't because she knows me, it is because she is great at her role, and knew what we all needed.  I was given a pearl purple heart to take home, that I will hold dear forever. The whole team showed nothing but warmth and empathy at a time that was crushing for us.  Since then, Violet has received a bereavement pack in the post, and the team provided me with a kit to allow me to take a handprint from my father, but also allowed me to take one of my own, that will be buried with my father when he returns home for his burial.  

So as hard as the experience has been, as a family we just want to say thank you.  The work that the team does has not gone unnoticed and we are forever grateful."

Thank you for allowing us to share this Natalie, and we all send our sympathies to you and your family.