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Mr Andrew Bird 2021-03-27 Person 5 5 0

Nurse Andrew Bird was the lead stoma care nurse at the NHS hospital where I had bowel cancer surgery in October 2017, supervising and usually carrying out my daily post-operation induction and training for life as a stomate. As well as his patience and understanding and his undoubted teaching skills, he was sensitive to the potential psychological impact of learning to live with a stoma. I left hospital confident that I would be able to adjust my life and my mindset. Nurse Andrew Bird's empathetic, whole-person approach to patients in his care continued during post-operative follow-up appointments, when he was generous in sharing his professional knowledge. His clear explanation of the medical procedure I had undergone removed residual confusion, bypassing medical jargon and communicating in immediately accessible language. As a service user of NAMS, I was confident that Nurse Andrew Bird's arrival there would impact significantly on the patient experience. The emphasis on an overall patient-centred strategy and the attention to detail in organising and managing an increasingly efficient, effective service are palpable. It is no surprise that Andrew Bird's name is often singled out for mention by patients and service users. He has a rare ability to be authoritative without being authoritarian, to empathise and to inspire trust and confidence.