Highlighting outstanding patient care on International Nurses Day 2026
In February 2026, Mavis Walsh sustained a serious injury in a car accident, after her husband, John, suffered heart failure and died while driving in Warrington. Later the same month, after ongoing care at The Walton Centre, Mavis sadly passed away. Here, their son Paul shares his experience of her care on Caton Ward, where his mum was looked after.
It's hard to put into words how thankful I am for the level of care and support that was shown to my mum, my family and I, while she was staying on Caton Ward earlier this year. The circumstances we found ourselves in were extraordinarily traumatic and emotionally challenging.
My lovely mum suffered multiple injuries in the car accident, including to her upper spine that required emergency surgery. As soon as mum arrived on the ward, she was given a high level of clinical support. But it went further than that. From my experience and from what I saw, I could see that the staff on the ward were emotionally connected to my mum and the situation we were in. They were empathetic to what was meaningful and important for mum and the rest of our family. Staff are trained to do the clinical things well, but to be emotionally intelligent too is special.
Crucially, they understood that mum was also trying to come to terms with the loss of her husband, my dad. Staff didn't ignore this. They helped her talk about it, and she was thankful for that. I don't think they knew how just acknowledging this helped me and my family at the time.
From the newly qualified members of the medical team, to the experienced - their communication was honest and open. We knew exactly where we stood with mum and her progression. Each staff member who was involved in mum's care introduced themselves at the bedside, and, refreshingly, asked who we were and engaged with us.
Everyone we met was approachable, and happy to answer any of our questions. So much so, that the ward manager Laura gave me her contact card, when we were concerned about mum. Reassurance is hard to come by in these moments, but we had it from the team at all times. They had built genuine trust with us so quickly, and it was maintained throughout.
The specialist nursing and therapy teams were wonderful. Mum couldn't do much therapy, but they were lovely and attentive. The spinal nurses went above and beyond, we felt confident in their knowledge and expertise. The team was bright, intelligent, and tuned into the emotion of the situation too.
Other members of the medical team, from the doctors to the health care assistants, were a guiding light in many of the discussions too. They all responded to my mum's needs, particularly in managing her pain, and they prepared us for the eventuality that mum's care would become palliative in those last few days. They made us feel like we were a part of something, a part of the same team, that we were not facing this tragedy alone.
Even the ward environment, which to many can feel very cold and intimidating, was open and welcoming. The balance of a secure ward and being able to come and go without difficulty was perfect. It fed into the good atmosphere. Nothing felt rushed or chaotic, even when I imagine it was. The cleanliness and tidiness of the ward often reminded me of my mum, because she liked to be orderly at home and work too. It helped that where she spent her final days was the same.
Mum worked in care homes for children. She supported young people her entire life. Her ethos was that people should be acknowledged for the good work they have done in life. Even at the end, she was more concerned about others.
I felt it was my duty share how well she was looked after at The Walton Centre. The care and support my mum received, that I was part of and observed, helped me and my family deal with not only the tragic situation, but the necessary matters afterwards. The approach to the care and support, for me, transcended the immediate clinical support offered to my mum. It has positively and meaningfully impacted the family and I, and helped us to cope with the loss of both my mum and dad.
We knew she, and we, had the best care and support from the staff, and, at all times, they held us in their hearts.
(Pictured, top left to bottom right: Kerry, Paul, Mavis, and John)