"High level of service"

I woke at 3.30 am with difficulty breathing and pains in my upper chest and shoulders.  I took a paracetamol and waited until 8.30 when the GP surgery opened. I was given a 9.50 appointment.

After temperature and blood pressure, Dr Smith decided that caution was necessary and sent for an ambulance.  He gave me two squirts under my tongue and some aspirin to sip whilst waiting.

The paramedics were terrific and we had a swift journey to hospital.  I was immediately seen and bloods taken. The nurse practicioner, Gemma, explained the need for an ECG and that was installed. Their biggest concern was that I had a problem with my heart. I was taken for a chest x-ray once it was thought that my heart was not a concern. The x-ray ruled out an embolism and I was now not in pain and breathing better.

It would seem that I had pleurisy which came as no surprise as I have a history of chest infections and even pneumonia many years ago. I was allowed to go home with some co-codamol and told by Gemma that if I had any recurrence I was to come right back to her.

I cannot praise the staff of the A&E Department enough. Not only were they efficient but also kind, which goes a long way when you are ill.  The department was busy but people went about their business with a calm manner which is soothing. 

As a nation, we need to find a way to support the NHS so that they can continue this good work, it needs to be more than just better pay, in my opinion. I believe the whole system needs to be looked at by a caring government, not just by accountants employed on its behalf. In my view, our politicians need to address this urgently so that other hospitals can aim to achieve the high level of service offered at the Queen Elizabeth.

I think we need more ambulances and paramedics, staff need to be better paid, shift patterns need to be assessed and lengths of shifts shortened, and staff need more training opportunities. I believe that dedication needs to be rewarded with better conditions so that this level of service continues.