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We knew we were in good hands

Posted By libratn33

"We knew we were in good hands"

About: Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Emergency department Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Palliative Medicine General and specialist medicine / Ward 41 (AMU) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response

(as a relative),

My mother was admitted to Altnagelvin hospital by Ambulance and (from A&E to her allocated ward), all of the people/professionals/staff we have met showed us such compassion and care to my mum and to us as a family I would like to tell our story.

She was allocated a ward post A&E support (which was also ward based supporting increased needs).

Then she was placed in Ward 24 with Brid’s team, who are wonderful professionals who made mum’s end of life care about informed choice, wherever possible involving us as a family.

They explained every step of the way, discussed treatment, Salt team, pain relief  and when needed,  end of life care. The news that care was now end of life was delivered with sensitivity by the consultant and ongoing support was also provided by the palliative care team.

From the Staff nurses to the support workers and the pastoral care we knew we were in good hands. Their person-centred approach to care placed mum’s likes and life choices central to her care (with the things she liked and people she loved around her). 

The leadership and teamwork I feel is a model of outstanding and innovative practice which was consistent throughout my mum's stay in hospital and in her passing.
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Responses

Response from Breidge McGavigan, Ward Manager, Acute Medical Unit (AMU) Unscheduled/ Emergency Care, WHSCT 5 months ago
Breidge McGavigan
Ward Manager, Acute Medical Unit (AMU) Unscheduled/ Emergency Care,
WHSCT

Submitted on 07/11/2024 at 21:42
Published on Care Opinion at 21:42

Dear libratn33,

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your kind words regarding the care that your mum and family received in ward 24. I send my sincere condolences to you and your family on your mums passing on behalf of all of the team in ward 24.

As the ward manager, I am very proud to receive such positive feedback and I will be reading this out at our staff huddles to all of the team which will be greatly received.

In AMU we are privileged to care for patients and families at the end of a patients life and I am so glad that you found our teams approach was delivered with sensitivity and with informed choice as it is so important.

You and your family will be in all our thoughts,

Best wishes

Breidge

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Response from Maggie Hamilton, Experience & Involvement Facilitator, Quality, Safety & Improvement, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service 5 months ago
Maggie Hamilton
Experience & Involvement Facilitator, Quality, Safety & Improvement,
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Experience and Involvement Facilitator is responsible for developing and delivering high quality, effective services and processes for NIAS Service Users, Carers, their Advocates, the Public and NIAS Staff across Northern Ireland (NI) to facilitate and enable them to fully contribute to and participate in experience and involvement in relation to the NIAS.

Submitted on 08/11/2024 at 17:21
Published on Care Opinion at 17:21

picture of Maggie Hamilton

Good afternoon libratn33,

I would like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to share your experience of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in what I am sure has been a very difficult time. It was heartening to learn how the staff you met showed such compassion and care to your mum and to you as a family. As an organisation we are committed to consistently show compassion, professionalism, and respect for the patients we care for.

I want to offer my sincerest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your mum.

Kind regards,

Maggie

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