Nun’s praise for time she spent at Mullingar hospital

Letter to the editor

Editor,

There is a saying ‘good news doesn’t sell’, so I hope that my comments won’t curtail the sale of your paper.

On Thursday September 4, while attending a conference in Athlone I had the misfortune to suffer a mild right sided CVA (a stroke). I was taken by ambulance, with the blue lights, on to the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. As I am a Missionary Sisters of the Assumption, a member of the community in Ballynahinch, County Down, I was far from home.

The attention and care I received from every member of staff were outstanding. I felt ‘at home’ and in good and safe hands at a true hospital of hospitality.

Although there are more than 200 patients in that hospital, I felt I was being treated as if I was the only patient there.

For the first three days, I was ‘specialed’ by a nurse 27/7 i.e. I had a nurse full-time, totally dedicated to caring for me.

The day after admission, I had speech and language therapy and saw a physiotherapist. Great care was taken on what I was given to eat.

Having a stroke means loosing something, so a bereavement nurse spent time with me, helping me to make the re-adjustment and return home to County Down.

I ask God’s Blessing on all the staff, services and patients of Mullingar Regional Hospital.

Yours,

Sr Geraldine Carolan