By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
On Saturday, January 3 my darling wife Gina passed away in the Wellow Unit at St. Mary’s after a short illness. She had been diagnosed with terminal bowel and liver cancer last September. During the last few weeks, I had been caring for her at home and here I must thank our friends and neighbours here for all their help and assistance during that time.
After a lovely quiet Christmas Day together – just the two of us – Gina contracted a serious infection which led to her being taken by ambulance to A&E on Boxing Day where she spent that night in the resus area. The following day she was transferred to the Acute Assessment Unit where, for two days she was cared for, before being transferred to the hospital’s End of Life Care Wellow Unit where she remained until her very peaceful death.
Much has been said in the media about our ‘ailing’ NHS. Be that as it may, I can only say that the treatment which Gina received during her illnesses was at all times exemplary and so caring from the oncology doctors and nurses (and especially the Colorectal Nurse Specialist Team); the occupational therapy staff who arranged home mobility aids etc; the two members of the ambulance crew who took Gina to hospital, the doctors and nurses in A&E and Resus; the staff in the AAU and the wonderful nurses in the Wellow unit. I won’t name names but I am sure they will know who they are.
I could not have wished for better care for my wife in her last months and hours than she received from all the staff at St. Mary’s, who, despite working long and hard twelve-hour shifts, remained unfailingly helpful and cheerful at all times.
Thanks to all who looked after my wife.
Jim Gillies, Whitecroft Park