"Staff helped reduce the impact of my hospital visit"

Although waiting 2 weeks to get an x-ray due to transport problem, I arrived 2 hours early for my appointment at Altnagelvin Fracture Day Clinic in November 2023 (via planned ambulance stretcher) due to having injured and broken my arm on frame of home hospital bed.

I suffer from severe M.E. (Myalgic Encephomyelitis) and along with many other symptoms, travel also causes disorientation, confusion, increased pain and sensitivity on top of cognitive dysfunction making it difficult to communicate.

The staff had very minimal information about me or the fact I have severe M.E. (Myalgic Encephomyelitis ) POTS, Fibromyalgia and other health issues/needs, and would require assistance whilst there, yet they were all extremely understanding and patient and due to their actions, I had less seizures than I usually would in such circumstances.

Staff kept lights off during the clinic lunch closure then put me into a different room with blinds and door closed. Moving to X ray they turned off main lighting in corridors and X ray dept. Again, their actions minimised the impact of noise and light intolerances. Had the staff not done so, it would have left me only able to communicate via speech and language aids.

The ward sister ensured I had food, fluids and attended to personal care whilst I was there. She also arranged admission to a ward for evening as no ambulance had arrived for me to go home and the day clinic was closing.

I still haven't recovered to baseline from the exertion of this essential journey and being in hospital but I am certain their actions helped lessen the inevitable payback and deterioration of health following any hospital appointment. I was left me able to function and remain as independent as possible while there, and ensure my kids were okay.

M.E. is a chronic, multi-system, neurological disease where symptoms are worsened by minimal, physical or cognitive exertion, I am therefore very grateful to the staff at Altnagelvin Fracture Day Clinic who ensured my complex needs were attended to.

Seeing the whole me

Being listened to

Nurses

Doctor