The critical care team at Conquest Hospital kindly offered their ‘A touch of Gentleness’ service on Valentine’s Day for the second year running, providing hand massages to well deserving colleagues.
The team set themselves up in the area in front of the chapel, and Karl Pasamanero a staff nurse in critical care told us about the day.
Karl said: “On Valentine’s Day, we had the pleasure again of bringing a special moment of care to those who care for others. As one of the members of Critical Care’s “A Touch of Gentleness,” I was deeply moved to see so many of our dedicated colleagues take a moment to receive some well-deserved pampering through our complimentary hand massage service.
“Throughout the day, our lounge area in front of the chaplaincy at Conquest was filled with smiles as colleagues emerged from their massage sessions feeling refreshed and appreciated. The simple yet meaningful gesture of a hand massage served as our way of saying “thank you” to the hands that heal, help, and support our patients every day.
“It was particularly heart-warming to witness colleagues from all departments – from our frontline clinical colleagues to our essential support teams – take a brief pause from their busy schedules to enjoy this moment of relaxation. Hearing their stories and getting to know them makes me proud of being a part of this wonderful community. Colleagues were able to enjoy a hot drink and cake as well, plus everyone had a valentine’s goodie bag to take with them. The photos captured during the event tell a story of appreciation, community, and the special bonds we share as healthcare professionals.
“This event reminded us all that while we dedicate ourselves to providing exceptional care to our patients, taking time for self-care is equally important. The positive response and grateful feedback we received confirmed that sometimes the simplest gestures can make the most meaningful impact. And of course, we would like to thank critical care senior sister, Carmen Diaz, sister Sherry Alexander, Natalia Lebedeva and Helen Prosper of “A Touch of Gentleness” for making this event happen. And also to our critical care matron – Caroline Ellis and our DAS head of nursing Sylvie Harris for their support.
“Finally thank you to all who participated and made this Valentine’s Day celebration a success. Thank you for your donations to support funding of our hand creams and oils for our patients in the intensive care unit. Your dedication to our patients and our hospital community continues to inspire, and we were honoured to give back to you in this small but meaningful way. See you again next Valentine’s!”
