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The programme is made easier to attend

Posted By Nev531

"The programme is made easier to attend"

About: Royal Victoria Hospital / Cardiology The Ulster Hospital / Cardiac Rehab The Ulster Hospital / Ward 3C

(as a service user),

Earlier this year I had problems with my heart, the Royal Hospital Belfast (Via the Ulster) had inserted 5 stents in 2016 but chest pains put me back to the Ulster Hospital Cardiac ward, earlier this year.

I was admitted into a 'Corridor bed', basically a bed at the side of the main corridor through the ward, with a screen around the bed, no washing facilities (had to use the Ward public toilets to have a body wash/brush my teeth), no privacy, lack of sleep with staff moving around all night.  Not a good experience I signed myself out after 5 days when the sister told me to have a quick shower in a room just vacated and before another patient came up from A & E. A horrible experience but I had to come back in within a week. 

I was transferred to the Royal Hospital Belfast who checked my stents/Arteries and found a problem that was sorted.  From this I was referred to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service at the Ulster Hospital. 

Having attended a few sessions in 2017, I went along to complete the full course this time. The course was run by Ashleigh, Stephanie, Ashley and the wonderful physio. About an hour of various exercises each week, then a presentation on related matters such as healthy eating, smoking, stress and others over an 8 week period. 

I have to say the team had changed since I last attended 6 years ago and what a superb difference, the programme is made easier to attend due to the 'people' friendly staff, easy to get on with and a bit of friendly banter.  These ladies are a credit to their profession and the trust.

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Responses

Response from Conor Campbell, Senior Manager, Assurance and Improvement, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust about a year and a half ago
We are preparing to make a change
Conor Campbell
Senior Manager, Assurance and Improvement,
South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

Assurance and improvement

Submitted on 27/12/2023 at 10:53
Published on Care Opinion at 10:56

picture of Conor Campbell

Dear Nev531

My name is Conor Campbell and I am User Experience Lead at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Thank you for sharing the story of your recent care journey experiences.

I am sorry to hear that your time spent using a corridor bed did not match the experience of a single room inpatient stay (privacy, sleep, washing) and I apologise to you for this. Unfortunately, when demand outstrips availability of single rooms, the Trust is forced to use corridor beds in order to provide clinical care to those in need.

I have planned to carry out a service user feedback programme to capture the experience of patients using corridor beds in order to inform inpatient service leadership and to influence service planning and delivery with aims to provide the best experience possible (a) in the short term when corridor beds must be used and (b) in the longer term as the Trust plans to accommodate future inpatient need.

If you would like to be involved in the design of this work and to have results / outcomes shared to you, please email me at conor.campbell@setrust.hscni.net to provide your name and contact email address / number.

It is great to know that you have found the Cardiac Rehab Service to be so beneficial and enjoyable.

I have shared your feedback on this service to Stephanie, Ashley, Ashleigh and the team who greatly appreciate your positive feedback and to know that their contribution has been so meaningful to you.

I hope that you keep well going forward.

Best wishes

Conor

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Response from Clare Forsythe, Patient and Client Experience Manager, Belfast Trust Wide, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust 4 weeks ago
Clare Forsythe
Patient and Client Experience Manager, Belfast Trust Wide,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 05/06/2025 at 13:37
Published on Care Opinion at 13:37

picture of Clare Forsythe

Dear Nev531

My name is Clare Forsythe and I am the Patient and Client Experience Manager in the Belfast Trust.

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us on Care Opinion.

I apologise that you did not previously receive a response to your story from the Cardiology team however, I would like to reassure you that your feedback has been shared with the team.

We have been working closely with teams across the Trust to ensure we now have staff to respond to all stories we receive through Care Opinion.

Your feedback is really important to us here in the Trust and I would encourage you to share any future experiences and feedback about our services through Care Opinion.

Kind Regards

Clare Forsythe

Patient & Client Experience Manager

Central Nursing & User Involvement

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