Tribute to John Stanley

Hand Unit the beginning

Dear Mrs Stanley and family please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your loved one.

I first met John in May 1979 after being told we would be setting up a hand unit being a ward sister I was used to having bombs dropped on me. Mr Stanley would work part time and have six beds on my ward.

Once I met him this young focused hardworking forward thinking, surgeon I was hooked. Hand and upper limb surgery for our RH patients enabling movement and function of disabled joints how fantastic. The rest is history as they say.

I worked for some wonderful consultant surgeons but John was the best he was kind and caring to his patients he valued the nursing staff and had so much respect for everyone.

It was a steep learning curve nursing hand surgery patients and I had to make lots of decisions regarding their care but I knew I had his trust and believe me I trusted him.

Sister Barbara Lambert RGN ONC