Grandad allowed to see dog in Dundee hospital hours before death

Nurses have brought a smile to the face of a dying man after they allowed his dog to visit him in his hospital bed in Dundee just hours before he passed away.

"Amazing" nurses at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital organised for a grandad to see his dog just hours before his death. Picture: Ashley Stevens

Heartwarming pictures and videos showed Peter Robson being visited by his loyal border collie in ward three at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital.

Peter passed away just hours later after the visit on Thursday.

His granddaughter, Ashley Stevens, posted a series of videos and pictures to Facebook paying tribute to NHS Tayside charge nurse Cheryl White, who arranged the unusual visit.

Staff at the hospital had to overcome usually strict infection control policies to allow the visit.

NHS Tayside’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy specifically advises against allowing animals into hospitals, though it does allow for it in “exceptional circumstances [for example] on the request of a terminally ill patient.”

Staff at the hospital today praised nurse Cheryl White for her “caring and compassionate act”.

Ashley Stevens’ video and pictures had been shared thousands of times and viewed by more than 150,000 people within 18 hours of being posted.

In her Facebook post, Ashley said: “Absolutely amazed and touched today from NHS Ninewells hospital, our grandads last and final wish was to see his dog one more time.

“Still in shock that the wish was granted and they went above and beyond today and made a dying man very happy.

“Cheryl White charge nurse of Ward 3 you are an absolute angel and we are all eternally grateful you don’t know what this meant to our grandad.

“I’ll let these moments do the talking, thank you NHS.

“Please share this everyone needs to know what amazing nurses and staff they have in that hospital.”

Ward three senior charge nurse Fiona McCallum said: “I am so proud of Cheryl and the rest of the team for this caring and compassionate act.

“The team worked with colleagues in infection control to make this possible and I can’t thank them all enough for going above and beyond to bring some comfort to Mr Robson and his family.”

NHS Tayside Chief Executive Lesley McLay added: “Our thoughts are with Mr Robson’s family as they deal with their loss at this difficult time.

“The ward three team has done a wonderful thing for this family. It is often the little things that mean the most to patients and their families and I’m so pleased that the staff were able to grant this wish.

“The team in ward three were the first ever Gold Outstanding Team winners in our STAR Awards last year and, with actions like this, it’s not hard to see why.”