"Major trauma accident at work leading to 7 months in hospital"

I was seriously injured at my work last year. I was crushed by a concrete ceiling so I suffered a broken femur, broken pelvis, broken hip, dislocated shoulder, broken bones in face spine and torso. Also had severe chemical burns all over my body in particular my left arm. I was trapped under it and the pain I felt was unbelievable at the time, almost sending me into an immediate dream with the adrenaline. The boys I worked with first and foremost found me and helped immensely but I cannot speak highly enough of the emergency services who attended the scene and then managed to safely get me out, hose the cement off my body as best they could and then managed to somehow stable me enough to take me to the ERI.

I was in a terrible state, literally fighting for my life, but the service I got which saved my life I could not speak highly enough about. I was put in an induced coma ICU and the team working with me saved my life. They saved my eyesight by continually putting drops in and cleaning them. I got surgery to repair all my broken bones and then as the days went by I was more stable. They monitored everything exceptionally well, I had skin grafts done and was taken to St Johns. The burns were flushed and monitored as well as being woken up out of sedation. I had delirium and the nurses were amazing working with me to keep me calm and let me naturally come round whilst proving very good care and talking with family.

I was then transferred to the Vic in Kirkcaldy Ward 33. This allowed my body time to recover and rest. The team there gave me again excellent care, they were very good at working around my needs as I was bed bound and I was extremely sore and uncomfortable. They always checked in to see how I was along with visitors and made me feel safe again as going through the trauma I had, it was hard to feel safe and relaxed anywhere. I was put forward for physio and they got me out the bed into chairs using equipment and got me motivated to get better and see the long term goals that I wanted to set.

Finally I was transferred to the Queen Margaret ward 5 in Dunfermline. In my 4 months there I came on so much, the staff were truly unbelievable to me. They picked me up when I was down, kept me positive. They looked after me with the correct medication and just the all round general care was very very good. The staff were good at identifying any issues small or large that I may have had and they were just all round top people. The communication was very good which I was happy with and the kindness to family was great.

The physio team got me first into using aids, up on my feet and week by week I progressed reaching targets and aims set by the occupational therapy team who were also very good to me. They identified aims, they helped me with the practical basics in life and also got me the psychological help required, because as time went by I felt worse about being contained to a hospital. The physio also got my confidence up and helped reduce pain by intense stretching exercises, walking longer distances and helping me meet my goals such as being able to look after and get my bond back with my daughter. I did lots of weight training and strengthening and conditioning work, balance work and continuously walking to improve the pattern.

Then the major trauma pathway team, everyone I worked with were very good with passing information on and also looking at the best options for me. I have been discharged now and will continue to rehab with phsyiotherapy, plastic surgery appointments, ICAAS team and psychology. Major trauma link co-ordinator and my GP will also be involved with any follow up/check up appointments.

The staff all round at Queen Margaret even the charge nurses, everyone involved in my care, made me feel as at home as possible and did everything they could to help me physically and mentally continue to recover and I am so thankful for that.

Overall I am eternally grateful for the care, help, support and work put in to get me in a position to go back home and start life again. I have a long way to go but to be up on my feet is a blessing. I put in so much hard work in this recovery but without the incredible service and staff of the NHS along the way, none of this would be possible. So thank you, I am forever blessed to have met such important people to me and my family now with the chance of a good quality of life again. 

Thank you so much,