"All the staff I met were friendly and reassuring"

I recently went to Out of Hours at St John’s Hospital with a racing heart rate and shortness of breath. I had these symptoms for a couple of weeks, thought they were Covid symptoms and fully expected the duty GP to confirm this and advise me to rest. This isn’t what happened. The duty GP took my history, examined me and was concerned enough about my symptoms that she referred me through to the emergency department for tests and a chest X-ray.

I was initially triaged by an ED nurse who also did my ECG trace.  This nurse was very reassuring and put me at ease immediately. She took me through to a cubicle while I waited on further tests and to see a medical doctor. I was fortunate to be seen by the same medical doctor for most of my time in ED. She introduced herself to me, took my history and explained what was going to happen.

I was eventually diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which was a shock to me. The doctor clearly explained my diagnosis and gave me plenty opportunity to ask any questions I may have had. She conferred with the medical registrar and endocrinologist (who was not in the hospital at the time) to devise a treatment plan which was then discussed and agreed with me.

It was getting late by this time and the ED team had to phone round wards to source the medication I required. I was monitored for an hour after taking the meds and was reviewed by night shift medical doctor who discharged me from ED after checking if I had any questions. I was given a discharge letter and prescription to collect from the hospital pharmacy the next day.

I was in ED for around 7 hours on one of the hottest days of the year so far. All the staff I met were friendly and reassuring. The nurses did my obs hourly, frequently checked I had water, refilled my bottle and also checked if I was hungry. ED doesn’t have air conditioning, was very warm and pretty uncomfortable for both patients and staff when I was there. 

I was in two minds about phoning 111 in the first place but am so glad that I did. I received excellent care that day from the out of hours GP and the staff at ED and am very grateful to them all. 

Communication between staff, different teams and me was good while I was in the ED but this hasn’t really been the case after discharge. The medical doctor said I would be referred to endocrinology clinic however I haven’t been contacted by endocrinology as yet. I don’t know what the timescales are for communication with me and can’t find a contact number on NHS Lothian website to check if I have been referred to endocrinology.