"I feel certain that they saved my life"

Sometime in October 2023, I went to the doctor bloated and in terrible pain. Was referred to gynaecology at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.  Not only was this a pain-filled experience it was also very frightening. I had a CT scan that revealed a tumour and was referred to Glasgow Royal for the surgery as it had to be done by a specialist surgeon - Dr Farquharson, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist - in case it was cancer. I waited about 10 days (which took me into November 2023) for this surgery and it was carried out very efficiently and, luckily  for me, it wasn't cancer.

Six pain-filled and frightening weeks later, I was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital again in January 2024 suffering, it turned out to be, from Sepsis.

Mr Gibson was the man in charge this time and he and his team were outstanding in their treatment of me. I was very ill indeed (if my brother had hung up the phone and let me crawl into bed as I wanted I would have died, the consultant confirmed this) and was treated with dignity, consideration, good manners and they were very informative too.

The nurses on the ward could not do enough for me, although it was very obvious that they were very busy, not to mention short staffed. Mr Glen was in charge of doing what turned out to be 2 ERCPs (endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography) and he and his team managed my care with the utmost professionalism and consideration. ERCP is highly unpleasant but the team took their time and explained everything I needed to know and were very reassuring. I was absolutely terrified both times but was also struck by how easily the procedure was performed.  I have to go back for another ERCP and I hope it's Mr Glen and his team that perform that.

I can't express enough how grateful I am that all of the above mentioned staff were available (doctors in England were on strike at the time) and prepared to treat me at a very difficult time in my life. Both Mr Glen and Mr Gibson and their teams treated me so very well, with good humour (I talk too much and even more when I'm frightened/ill, both men took this in their stride and managed me very well indeed) and I can't begin to say how very grateful I am. 

I still need treatment but I'm allowed to get stronger before I embark on it. I just hope that it's the same teams that treat me.

I sincerely hope that Dr Farquharson, Mr Glen and Mr Gibson are made aware of my review. I feel certain that they saved my life.