How to find nurses/doctors who helped me

Hi

As the title says I would love to find who helped well saved my life while I was in icu in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital

I remember a couple of the nurses and had they were the best I would love to see or just get in contact

Has anyone done this or do you think they think it’s a normal day sounds weird but would just love to thank them all

[Sepsur]

I even tracked down the a&e nurse who first stabilised me enough to move me to ICU. Everyone I sought out really really appreciated it.

[Ferham]

We managed to track down several of the ITU nurses and consultants . I regularly make up goodie hampers for them as a thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Ferham]

That must be great to do I sent a thank you hamper in when was home but wasn’t sure went to correct place

How did you start looking

[Sepsur in reply to Hidden]

I just went to ICU - because you could then. I asked the ICU matron to help me track down certain people. I sent goodies, I also then started visiting ICU to talk to the nurses

[Ferham in reply to Hidden]

I actually had a friend who worked in audiology at the hospital, she took the hamper into ITU for me , I was able to take it up to the recovery ward and the 3rd hamper was for the physio's who were based at the hospital . This was for the first hampers I did, I have done 3 lots since he has been home. I just drop them into the reception at our hospital and mark them up for the departments, I pop a little note and letter into each hamper.

We are fortunate as a few of senior staff members have followed me on Twitter when I tag the trust in my thankful and positive post. They too can make sure it goes to the right area , they have told me before that the notes we send give them so much joy .

I will be making some Christmas ones up soon, we can never repay them for what they have done, and dear lord do they need some kindness shining on them at the moment.

[FamilyHistorian]

Hi there are 2 other ways to get the info you want. Some ICU’s keep a patient diary which is normally given to you at the end of your stay. My icu didn’t.I applied for my records, which are free, you can ask for them in pdf rather than paper. This gives a complete record. You need to be ready to read this and answers questions that you didn’t know you wanted but it does give everyone’s names

[Gooddaysunshine]

I googled names I could remember, and also used email addresses of nurses and consultants who were named in follow up ICU emails to me. I asked them to forward my thank you messages to anyone else they knew who was involved in my care and they did this as much as they could.

Finally I emailed the specialist who first intubated me and set me on the long path of saving my life, and she sent a lovely reply.I do not want to see my hospital records yet, as I am not ready to face the naked medical truth.

Finally, it is not weird to say thanks, of those who replied - pleased note not all did - they said it made their day as they usually face a daily diet of bad news.

[Hidden]

I agree it would be nice to see them inperson to thank. I can only remember a couple of names, which is frustrating. I did meet the aneathitist that put in my trachy , he see more last week so I was able to thank him. I have sent a couple of cards to ICU, but often feel it would be nice to meet them again.

[Thomo09]

Speaking from experience they would love it. The Nurses are struggling at this time and this would be a massive encouragement. You can ring the unit to see if you can visit.

[stevet11753]

I was lucky in that the hospital I was in (Royal Liverpool) had outreach nurses and I arranged a visit to ICU through them (this was . It was an emotional occasion and an important part of my healing process. I met for the first time the nurse that cared for me during my initial, critical 48 hours. Other nurses that looked after me during my period in ICU I couldn't remember, couldn't recall them, even though I was 'conscious' at the time; that was painful and is an example of the mental toll of critical illness.Good luck with your efforts to arrange a visit. It must be difficult in these times.

[stevet11753 in reply to stevet11753]

I intended to day this was six years ago.

[Picklethecat]

I returned with my daughter to ICU the day before she was discharged from hospital and she was able to meet several of the doctors and nurses who helped her. It was very useful for both of us and gave us the chance to thank them personally. Also they were really happy to see her looking so much better. It made their day as they had not seen many people leave ICU this year. So it won't be weird and as a previous poster said they need feedback from survivors to give them a boost.

[Grant_za]

The medical teams really appreciate that "thank you" after a patient's discharge. It makes the work so much more rewarding.