"Overactive Heart Rate"

Staff skills

Recently I was experiencing a rapid heart rate of between 160 and 180 beats per minute (BPM).  I tried for 3 hours to get this under control with techniques I had learned, but I had to get my husband to take me into Tiverton Hospital Minor Injuries Unit to get them to put me on an ECG. 

They dealt with me efficiently and having read the results immediately contacted A&E department. at Royal Devon & Exeter (Wonford) who asked that I be sent onto them asap. I was fortunate that an ambulance from Musgrove Park hospital was just outside and was able to take me to Exeter. The crew were excellent, they monitored my heart constantly on the journey and stayed with me until my handover in Exeter.

At Exeter A&E they had already accelerated my going straight into the Resuscitation Room, where once again I was dealt with very quickly and a monitoring bay found for me within 10 minutes of arrival.  The unit was struggling under pressure and limited staff, but managed to stay calm and efficient in their handling of all their patients.  I do not know how they managed so well, especially when an elderly patient in the bay opposite me passed away and the staff member in charge had to deal compassionately and respectfully with the death procedures and the grieving family members.  Staff members were constantly moving around with computers on trollies monitoring a large number of emergency cases. 

I spent many hours in the unit under constant surveillance, including having fluid pumped into me and a drug to slow down my heart rate.  At 5pm the staff member in charge made me a cup of coffee and gave me some biscuits.  Then at 8pm a nurse gave me coffee and a sandwich.  

I saw a consultant at just after 10pm who explained what was wrong with my heart and that I would need to have a procedure called an oblation.  Unfortunately I will have to go onto a waiting list of between 9 - 12 months because of the many people waiting for heart procedures.

I was able to discuss what restrictions, if any, I need to apply to daily life in the meantime, but was reassured that I could maintain an active life for a person in their late seventies, as I would be taking blood thinners to prevent clots forming, which was good news. A taxi was ordered and I got home at 11.15 pm.

Please would you pass onto PALS and the A&E staff how much I appreciated their care, compassion and pleasantness whilst carrying out their very demanding duties.  We are very fortunate to have these wonderful people dedicating themselves to the NHS. 

When I was born, there was a World War raging, many bombed buildings, many  people had been killed.  There was no NHS, no free GP service, no antibiotics, no vaccines, no NHS dentists, no free maternity services.  I pray that the wonderful NHS that was created after the end of the war in 1945 will continue to be loved and supported by all of us and that we will do all that we can to support you and your staff into the future. 

May God Bless you.