Iain Goodway, who owns the Deni Golf Resort, is past president of the Rotary Club of Deniliquin and an executive member of Deniliquin Business Chamber.
He took to social media last week to express his appreciation of staff at the hospital after recently falling off a ladder.
In the post, he started with “I want to say something about Deniliquin Hospital”.
“We often see posts on social media when something has gone wrong. I think it's equally important that we speak up when people get things very, very right,” he said.
“After my ladder accident on July 7, I arrived at Deniliquin Hospital by ambulance and ended up staying there for 10 days. The care I received was quite simply outstanding.
“From emergency through to the ward, the nursing staff were exceptional. Day or night, it didn't matter, I was treated with kindness, patience, compassion and professionalism every single time I needed them.
“During my stay I had some unexpected complications and there were times when I was feeling particularly vulnerable. Through all of it, I felt completely safe and secure because I knew I was being watched over by people who genuinely cared about me.
“That is a very special feeling when you're lying in a hospital bed.
“My thanks also go to the doctors, the physiotherapist, cleaners, administration staff, the people delivering meals and everyone else I encountered during those ten days.
“Without exception, I was treated with warmth and kindness. I was also incredibly fortunate that my own doctor happened to be on call during the period I was there and was able to see me every day.
“There is an enormous amount of discussion about regional healthcare, and we sometimes hear plenty about what isn't working. Well, I want people to hear about something that is working.
“Deniliquin Hospital is full of wonderful people doing an extraordinary job.
“To every person who helped look after me during those ten days: thank you. I genuinely don't have the words to express just how grateful I am.
“Deniliquin is very fortunate to have this hospital and these people in our community, and after my experience, I will certainly never take them for granted!”
There were many comments supporting what Mr Goodway said, including a woman who explained that her daughter was unable to see a doctor of her own choice and was attended by a nurse practitioner at the hospital who “fixed her problem in a short period of time … if (it) wasn’t seen to she could have lost her eye, so I’m grateful for the resources we do have”.
Many others were thankful of the “good work” in various hospital departments, congratulated staff on being “so nice and professional” and expressed “how fortunate we are to have such lovely and caring staff at the hospital”, while it was also acknowledged that “Deniliquin needs a new hospital. What we have is wonderful, just keep on updating the facilities that we have.”
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