"Monklands Hospital Colorectal Nurse"

Dad was in severe pain, and ambulance service refused to take him as not life threatening. My mum and dad both have terminal cancer and for the first time in months both my sister and I were more than two hours away at the same time.

I left where I was staying in a panic and after picking up the options they had run through - district nurse, GP and ambulance service, left a message for the colorectal nurse service. Unbeknownst to me my dad had also rang and although it was almost 5pm, Elaine phoned him back and smoothed his admission through A&E.

My dad had previously said he would die at home rather than go to A&E as the previous visit had involved such a long and difficult wait. This has also been our experience with my mum, even when phoned in by the GP. I’d got a family friend to pick him up and I think that was the only reason he even got in the car.

To have him turn up and be triaged within 15 minutes was like a miracle. He was immediately catheterised and relieved of pain. Elaine had arranged for him to be prioritised and comforted. It was a bright light of humanity in a system which is so difficult to navigate. I sat in the car after dad got admitted to the ward and cried. 

We are a family in absolute crisis -dad’s diagnosis has been sudden and difficult on top of my mum’s cancer but to have had his admission into A&E managed in this way was so appreciated. It may make it easier to convince him next time as an added bonus.

Thank you so much to Elaine and the colorectal team- you’ve no idea how much we appreciate it.