A patient's stay at Crestcare St Mary's
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
Mrs Ncumisa Mtwa, 57, was admitted to Crestcare St Mary's after a week of elevated blood pressure and flu symptoms that had not improved with self-medication. She stayed for further care and monitoring.
When she arrived, no bed was immediately available. While she waited, the nursing staff checked on her regularly, monitored her condition, and kept her informed about what was happening. She said the wait never felt long because someone was always checking in.
Once she was moved to the ward, the same pattern continued. At the start of each shift, nurses introduced themselves, greeted her, and asked how she was doing.
The nursing care at Crestcare St Mary's
She gave particular credit to a nurse named Yongama. He gave her medication and helped her get to and from the X-ray department, and she described him as patient and attentive across his shifts. Over the course of her stay, she said she came to trust him.
One moment stayed with her. She had a sudden nosebleed that frightened her. She pressed the call bell, and staff came quickly, settled her, and dealt with it. She said the speed of the response was what made her feel safe about being there.
Throughout her admission, she said she always knew what medication she was on, how her treatment was progressing, and what came next. Staff explained each stage rather than leaving her to work it out.
She also noticed the things that are easy to miss. The wards and bathrooms were clean and stayed that way. The kitchen staff were friendly and took the time to explain the day's meal options.
Asked what stood out most, she came back to the nursing staff — the way they greeted her before getting on with their work, and how consistently they kept her informed.
