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"Being ignored"

About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Emergency Medicine Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Neurology (Brain, Spinal and Nerves)

(as the patient),

I drove myself to hospital not knowing I was having a spinal stroke. For 2 weeks I was paralysed from the neck down, spending a total of 3 months in hospital.

About 2 weeks after admission, the doctor who treated me in A&E came to see me in the ward. He asked me if I had taken the Covid vaccine and if so, when? I answered yes and I received my 1st dose under 4 weeks before I went to A&E. I responded with can you tell me why you're asking me this ? His answer knocked me for 6, we've just had someone else admitted with a spinal stroke and two people with a spinal stroke presenting at the same hospital, within 2 weeks of each other, is unheard of with the odds at millions to one. I believe you've been injured by the vaccine and I've entered a yellow card. 

Fast forward 16 months and I thought my claim with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme was a formality. I received my answer and it was a no proof of causality knockback.

I was absolutely devastated and asked for the reasons of my knockback. There was no evidence of the yellow card and the doctor never signed my paperwork stating it was the vaccine.

I've tried to get a copy of the yellow card, nobody can find it. I've tried to get in touch with the hospital to ask who the doctor was that spoke to me, they won't answer me.

I've been left disabled, unable to work, I've lost the use of my left hand, I use two crutches to help me to walk. I need help to shower, help to clean myself after using the toilet. I have to use a urine bag and urisheath every single night or I wet the bed.

I'm suffering with really bad depression. It hasn't been helped with the way I've been ignored by my local NHS hospital. Can someone please help me to find the doctors involved in my case so I can move on?

The money will help pay my mortgage but being told the vaccine did this to me is invaluable and I can somehow try and move on with what's left of my life.

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Responses

Response from Fiona Mitchelhill, Interim Chief Nurse Medicine & Unscheduled Care, Chief Nurse & Frailty Lead, NHS Grampian 12 months ago
Fiona Mitchelhill
Interim Chief Nurse Medicine & Unscheduled Care, Chief Nurse & Frailty Lead,
NHS Grampian
Submitted on 11/04/2023 at 12:08
Published on Care Opinion at 12:08


picture of Fiona Mitchelhill

Dear Spinal Stroke - Real not Rare

Thank you for sharing your story. I am very sorry to read about your experience. Please accept my apology that your experience has not been positive. NHS Grampian and our staff, take feedback seriously as it enables us to look at where we can improve. To enbable us to review this further, as well as to understand your experience and your concerns in relation to this, I would be keen to communicate directly with you.

I would be grateful if you could email on Irene, the unit operatoinal manager that oversees A&E, on irene.jessiman@nhs.scot and she can arrange a suitable time to discuss your experience and agree next steps.

Thank you.

Fiona, Interim Chief Nurse for Medicine & Unscheduled Care

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Update posted by Spinal Stroke- Real Not Rare (the patient)

Hi Fiona

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my message, I'm very happy with the way I was treated when I was in hospital.

It's the way I'm being ignored now,when I need help the most.

Steve

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