Still grateful for care of nurses

Back in 1971 whilst serving in the Royal Navy and living in rented accommodation in Portsmouth I suffered a life-changing event. I returned home late from work to find the house owner having a party. I went up to my room to shower, get dressed and join the “noise”. But when I went to the flatmate’s room where I knew the radio was, I got grabbed from behind and propelled out the window.

We had the rooms on the second floor so my fall which included hitting a wall before the pavement had some sightseeing on the way down. I briefly lay on the pavement before getting up and returning to the front door. I will leave the rest of this event and move to the piece that still means so much to me. After a week in the intensive care unit and some 14 hours surgery I was to be transferred to one of the wards. To my surprise on my transfer day two of the staff nurses who had been looking after me came back into the unit at midday. As soon as I saw them come round the curtain, I had a huge smile on my face. I asked what they were doing back on a day off. They said: “Oh! We have the job of taking you to your next bed”. Being a sailor that sounded great but I knew what they meant.

So off I went in my chair with those two lovely ladies in charge and once in the ward they got me organised and “tucked up”. Just before they left, I gave them a huge “thank you” to which they replied “No, we thank you!” and then they left.

Although I did not know it, they would visit me several times before being discharged. However, I was discharged on a Friday then admitted to the Royal Navy hospital in Gosport where I would be for more than two weeks.

After finally being cleared of my hospital time I was back to business and each October I sent a bunch of flowers to the girls in the unit that saved me but they were sent via the “Matron”.

I did this for three years, then the hospital was demolished. The memories I have of those days are like they only happened last week and mean a “mountain” to me. So, the NHS means much to me and because of them I am writing this letter. I have no idea where those nurses are now but they are in my memory and there they will stay.

Hamish Smillie

Faversham Road, Seasalter

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A previous graduation ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral