Cork Views: 'I spent 18 days in CUH - its staff are world class'

I had just flown in to Cork from London after a week’s holiday with my family, but once landed, my leg from my knee to my ankle appeared completely red.

This set the alarm bells ringing with my daughter, who is a nurse in the CUH. She felt a visit to the hospital was necessary.

When I entered the A&E department, the CUH machine kicked in, and that was the only way I can express the urgency that I was given on seeing my problem.

The care throughout the various departments was something to behold, from the consultants to all the various doctors and medical professions constantly monitoring my progress.

With the undergraduates listening and recording my progress, they were not alone in being taught not only the medical side of their profession, but also the human side. The warmth shown to a patient, the genuine caring touch that is so important when someone is at their lowest.

The nurses, who looked after me with their beautiful smiles, would help any person get better. They are the hidden angels of our city, yet these are the people who are vilified and physically abused by some of the outside world.

Come into their world, and it is one of pure love, respect, and kindness.

They only see a human being in its most vulnerable appearance, and a weakness where a helping hand is needed.

There was not one day where my care was less than another, and this was throughout my 18-day stay at CUH.

The ward leads were true professionals, checking on my progress constantly.

The ICU team who were monitoring my progress, and who were there when I was at my weakest, were incredible.

I cannot put into words my feelings as I write this letter for the people who gave me so much help to get me back my health.

There are other working areas of the hospital which keep the wheels in motion, with the most caring attitude and application to their roles.

The people who looked out for me for mealtimes were so quiet and respectful. Their kindness, their smiles, it all helps, and it is done without thinking.

The porters were also as genuine, their words as they moved you along were also one of kindness and respect, which was more than appreciated when I was in their care.

A critically important role which I became very aware of in the hospital environment was that of the people who kept the CUH clean.

Once again, they were so respectful of one’s illness by quietly going about their work and apologising if too noisy at any point.

Their actions were quite noticeable as they too took it upon themselves to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

As an example of this care that I witnessed, I have to relate a scene I saw when in my second day in the resuscitation unit.

A lady cleaning the floor with a mop must have come across a difficult spot to clean, and rather than ignore it and continuing on with her day, she went away and returned with a sponge to clean the area on the hands and knees.

I was taken aback by her care for her job and for us as patients in that ward.

Is that not a lady who has a strong awareness of the importance of her role within the CUH?

Having left the hospital now with my health back, I have encountered many people who have had similar experiences as me when hospitalised, and with the people who keep our hospitals running.

I am writing this letter to The Echo and your well-read paper, for them, myself, and my family.

We are so lucky as Corkonians to have the CUH at our doorstep, and to have all those people working away, every minute of every day, using their skills with their loving smiles.

No doubt there are areas within the hospital that are not perfect, and within time these will get the attention they deserve, and issues such as staffing and improved monetary terms will be resolved.

I would hope this will happen all in good time, but for now I would like to thank the people in the Cork University Hospital and the loving professional group of people full of empathy who work there.

It is a hospital which us Corkonians are very proud of, and you will not get better care anywhere else in the world.