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Emergency care and overnight stay in hospital

Posted By Janetxx

"Emergency care and overnight stay in hospital"

About: Antrim Area Hospital / Accidents & Emergency Antrim Area Hospital / Ward B3 Cardiology Castle Practice Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response

(as the patient),

At the beginning of September 25 I became unwell at Health Centre pharmacy Carrickfergus. The staff and pharmacist got me water, called ambulance and took me to GP practice next door. I saw GP who assessed and  monitored me. I recovered before ambulance arrive but they insisted I go to A and E department Antrim Area Hospital as I still had irregular fast heart rhythm.

The paramedics from Larne, Dave and Stewart were amazing professionals doing more tests on site before we moved off. (Highly skilled, professional support and Informative allayed my anxieties). 

While I was in A&E for 9 hours I was in and out of waiting area for various test ECG's bloods trays. I found the hard seat so hard but all staff excellent in A&E despite very sick patients on drips everywhere. Got admitted to Cardiology ward 2.30am and staff there also excellent. Not much sleep but comfortable bed.

There is so much bad press and I just want to convey sincere thanks to all of them. Wishing I could remember all their names.

I felt very satisfied with my care

Only thing was breakfast. Would be good to offer a yoghurt and bit of fruit as an alternative.

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Responses

Response from Maggie Hamilton, Experience & Involvement Facilitator, Quality, Safety & Improvement, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service last week
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 18/09/2025 at 14:59
Published on Care Opinion at 14:59

picture of Maggie Hamilton

Good afternoon Janetxx,

I am grateful to you for taking the time to share your experiences of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. It was heartening to learn Dave and Stewart were amazing professionals and you felt your anxieties were put to rest by Highly skilled, professional support and Informative paramedics. It means such a lot to our teams to hear that they have a made a difference to those they care for and I am sure they will be delighted to hear your lovely words.

I would like to share your feedback with the clinicians who attended to you on the day and in order to locate them I would require the following information:

o Date and approximate time of the incident

o The address the ambulance was dispatched to

If you are happy to share this information, I can be contacted at:

Maggie.hamilton@nias.hscni.net

I hope you are recovering well.

Kind regards,

Maggie

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Response from Lauren Henry, Clinical Services Manager Cardiology /Rheumatology, Antrim/Causeway Hospital, NHSCT last week
Lauren Henry
Clinical Services Manager Cardiology /Rheumatology, Antrim/Causeway Hospital,
NHSCT

Submitted on 22/09/2025 at 12:14
Published on Care Opinion at 12:14

Hello my name is Lauren Henry, clinical services manger for Cardiology. Sincere thank you for your feedback on the cardiology ward. I will pass on your comments to the catering team regarding food choices.

Warmest wishes with your recovery,

Lauren

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Response from Cathy McCoy, Clinical Service Manager, Emergency Medicine, NHSCT last week
Cathy McCoy
Clinical Service Manager, Emergency Medicine,
NHSCT

Submitted on 22/09/2025 at 12:44
Published on Care Opinion at 12:44

Dear Janet

I hope this note finds you well. I am sorry about the wait in ED it has been a difficult few weeks for the staff. I am glad you found the staff excellent despite the pressure they faced

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