"Real human beings with hearts as big & strong as mountains ❤️🙏🏻"

Suddenly took unwell at home, I really needed medical help, of that I had no doubt! But I felt I couldn’t go to hospital because they are so overwhelmed with lack of beds and staff. 

Had to contact my GP - several blood tests/examinations, suspected appendicitis. The GP rings immediately to hospital, I prepared myself for an all-day wait with no chance of a bed! Soon I was triaged & taken to wait on consultation. As I waited kneeling on the floor in dreadful pain, I saw so many young & old in need, without complaint I waited, chairs were full.

My turn came, like a miracle a bed awaited me, CT revealed bowel infection, inflammatory levels 75- every staff member I met to this point were so amazing, the level of concern for me kept me comforted during this shock all of a sudden to be ill, in pain & anxious. The Acute Ward had some very sick patients, I watched again as I waited how the nurses, doctors, went above & beyond duties with each shift, everyone of them blew me away how dedicated they are to their profession.

I was high risk with severe allergies to antibiotics, which is so so frightening, at every stage I was watched over, the IV was turned on but very soon I felt my body reject it as many before, OFF immediately it went, nurses at bedside, call for consultant who had to be on the ward before IV attempt. He came right away, reassured me, my observations were checked again & I settled down for the evening, in complete confidence with the care given.

As the weekend passed, the meals were wonderful, friendly faces everywhere even under extreme pressure, all the patients in my ward were so lovely, we all quickly became friends & encouraging other. Such good humour & laughs with all the staff. My consultants were amazingly thorough yet down to earth. 

I just couldn’t believe my speedy care considering the dilemma with our NHS, unfortunately so many are not so! No fault of boots on the ground or on the wards. 

In my opinion, the lack of appreciation from parliament is diabolical. I think they ought to be ashamed & sent to hospitals to work for a week or even a day & work as these people do day in & day out, then & only then would they realise how they feel. As I walked out of Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, I was happy to get home but so sad for them being treated so badly. Remembering the stories by other patients how they’d lay in A&E for 2 nights or 4 nights with many having to be turned away!! 

My story is I am here because my GP couldn’t leave me all weekend in my condition, I am here because Coleraine Hospital love their jobs to care for patients, who I believe deserve so much more, and we should stand with them.

Many people lose family members because they can’t be got to soon enough. Many suffer at home afraid to prevent someone else from having that bed!!! 

I am truly grateful & cannot thank them all enough. God bless our doctors & nurses because they are real human beings with hearts as big & strong as mountains ❤️🙏🏻