MP's praise for hospital staff's 'loving care'

An MP has paid tribute to staff at the hospital where she was treated when she was a child after making a return visit there 40 years later.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, who has been disabled since birth, had her foot amputated at Sheffield Children's Hospital when she was just 11 months old, and while under the trust's care she also underwent a major hip operation, enabling her to walk.

Visiting the hospital again earlier this month, she was reunited with two medical professionals who had helped care for her four decades ago.

Tidball said "outstanding care" from the hospital's staff when she was a child had enabled her to "walk, gain my confidence and fulfil my potential".

The Labour MP said the hospital had "lovingly cared for me over so many years".

"I will always remember how kind, caring, and hilariously funny the team on the orthopaedic ward were," she added.

"The effort of those nurses who made that possible, on top of extraordinary medical care, is something I have hugely appreciated ever since."

Jonathan Pagdin, a clinical nurse specialist who helped care for Tidball when she was still a child, said: "It's always so wonderful to hear that former patients have gone on to achieve amazing things.

"We always love to hear all about what they have been up to since receiving care with us."

During her visit to the hospital, Tidball was shown areas of the hospital where she would be treated if she were a patient today, as well as the hospital's new helipad, paid for by a £6m fundraising campaign.

Ruth Brown, chief executive at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Everybody at Sheffield Children's is exceptionally proud of the work Marie has accomplished since receiving care from us as a child.

"It was especially touching to hear all about the fond memories she has of the care she received from long-standing staff members."

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