For many people, a pet is family, which is why our colleagues stepped in when Patrick's owner was admitted to hospital and there was nobody to care for him.

Over the past week, colleagues from our Home Treatment Teams and St Charles Hospital have been rallying around an unlikely colleague, Patrick, a dog who arrived on Thames Ward with his owner.

Family members had planned to take Patrick, but unfortunately that wasn't possible, leaving staff with a dilemma. Without somewhere safe to stay, Patrick could have ended up at the pound while his owner was receiving care.

Instead, staff stepped in.

Tara from the Home Treatment Team offered to take Patrick home overnight while longer-term arrangements were sorted. Since then, Patrick has become an unofficial mascot, spending time with several team members and their families, including Rosni and Marietta, who have all helped care for him.

They wanted to make sure both the patient and their beloved dog were cared for during a difficult time, showing compassion that went far beyond their day-to-day roles.

While staff have been looking after Patrick, it's fair to say he's been looking after them too – he’s enjoyed trips to the park and even joined a team’s call, where his appearance helped brighten a busy morning.

With Patrick's owner hopefully due home soon, everyone is looking forward to a happy reunion. Until then, he's continuing to enjoy life as the much-loved King Charles of St Charles.

This act of kindness shows just how far our staff will go to support patients and the things that matter most to them.🐾