"She immediately made me feel reassured"

I was in a lot of pain and discomfort from my mirena coil. No one could help me at the Health Clinic as it was fitted by Gynaecology, after an hour trying to get through to my GP surgery to seek help, I was met with a ‘computer says no’ attitude and a very unhelpful receptionist with no empathy who said my constant pain is not classed as an emergency. 

Cried out, in pain and feeling lost I rang the Altnagelvin Hospital gynaecology ward myself as I didn’t know where else to turn and a lovely Nurse Gail answered and immediately made me feel reassured that I would get help somehow in the next 48 hours.

She took time out of her very busy day on the ward to speak with my consultant who wasn’t in the hospital that day. She then went on to find the Registrar on duty and asked if he could help me. She rang me back within 2 hours and asked if I could come straight out, which I did. I was met with a smiling face and a warm heart. I smiled through the pain and was relieved I was getting help to get out of pain.

I didn’t actually realise how much pain I was in, until I wasn’t, as I walked back to the car with ease after getting the coil removed. Gail was amazing and is great at her job, going above and beyond for a complete stranger that she knew was in pain.

The world should have more Gail’s and the GP receptionist could learn a thing or two from her.