Wonderful staff at QA Hospital
On New Year’s Eve I awoke at 5am, put my right foot onto the carpet and an excruciating pain ensued.
My leg folded under me and I fell (age 88) face down onto the bedroom carpet.
My foot would not tolerate weight bearing but I managed to phone 999 and was advised, despite the mobility issue, that entry into my home was obviously vital otherwise my door would be (expensively) knocked down, which was understandable.
I crawled agonisingly on my hands and knees and managed to open the door to await the ambulance, which I was told might take three hours.
To my huge relief it arrived in under 45 minutes and I was carefully transported to the hospital along with my bag of clothing and toiletries.
I will spare readers the worst of the clinical details, but basically the problem stems from a very serious car accident some years ago.
This letter is to address the care I received, and it was superb – from the moment I arrived at 6am.
I stayed in A&E for 10 hours and saw three doctors and consultants all of whom were kind and caring, along with clinical and backroom office staff – all empathetic, humorous and efficient which was truly remarkable.
I was later transferred to a special ward where all eight staff were very patient and friendly. Later that day (despite me being willing to get a taxi home after six X-rays, many physical examinations and blood tests) staff insisted that I wait for an ambulance and conveyed me to my ninth floor flat plus baggage and copious medication.
I live alone as my dear Wife Georgina is in a care home and also very well cared for. Well done NHS and specifically A&E at QA Hospital.
Jon Cole