Care Opinion

Text size

Theme

Language

Videos in BSL or ISL
Help with language translation
Help with reading or listening

Emergency case during my holiday

Posted By jackpotsr65

"Emergency case during my holiday"

About: North Devon District Hospital / Accident and emergency North Devon District Hospital / Intensive & Critical Care Unit South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust / Emergency ambulance

(as the patient),

In June 2024 I came by emergency 3:00am in North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. I had a very serious pneumonia and was unable to breath. Very friendly ambulance team brought me safely in the emergancy room. I got immediate help by extreme friendly doctors and nurse making me feel safe. They have started immediately all diagnostics needed x-ray, CT, blood etc etc. so to ensure what was wrong with me. I got all time to recover the first hours on intensive care before I got to a three-bed room on the ward.

Everybody was extremely helpful and very kind, even on ward, with three other on the room, it was a continuous caretaking on everybody. If you compare this with Germany, in German hospital if you ring for a nurse you can be happy you see somebody the same day.

Also the NDDH is impressive clean. Bathrooms, toilets, floors, perfect cleanness. Ongoing doctors visits. I must admit, I believe everything what we hear in the news from British Health system is rubbish. This was an impressive experience.

Maybe NDDH is not representative for all places within the UK, but for me it is a star on the horizon. They were taken care on me around the clock, friendly, with a lot of empathize. I owe evrybody highest respect and a big thank you again. God bless you all.

Room

Room

Bathroom

Bathroom

Calling for help

Calling for help

Nurses

Nurses

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Catherine Clement, Ward Clerk (Northern Services), Intensive Care Unit (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 3 weeks ago
Catherine Clement
Ward Clerk (Northern Services), Intensive Care Unit (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 23/09/2025 at 15:08
Published on Care Opinion at 15:19

Good Afternoon jackpotsr65,

Thanks for your lovely feedback. Also it's really nice to hear you were happy with how the department cared for you and made you feel safe.

We wish you well for the future.

Kind Regards

Catherine ICU

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Sophie Hutchings, Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 2 weeks ago
Sophie Hutchings
Governance and Operational Support Manager (Northern Services), Emergency Department (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 01/10/2025 at 14:48
Published on Care Opinion at 14:48

Dear jackpotsr65,

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. I am sorry to hear you suffered a serious case of pneumonia and needed to attend hospital, but am pleased to hear it was a pleasant experience and the friendly staff. I will ensure that your feedback is shared with the wider ED team. I hope you are recovering well and wish you all the best for the future.

Best wishes

Sophie Hutchings
ED Governance & Operational Support Manager

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Response from Deanne Hill, Patient Engagement Manager, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 2 weeks ago
Deanne Hill
Patient Engagement Manager,
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 02/10/2025 at 16:47
Published on Care Opinion at 16:47

Good Afternoon jackpotsr65,

Thank you so much for providing us with feedback on the service you received, it is much appreciated! We hope you are on the mend, and are sorry you had to use our services in the first place!

For confidentiality, your patient information is redacted on this platform and so we cannot find the details of your incident, we would love to pass your message onto the Ambulance crew who attended you and so, if you would be willing to share some additional information, please could you email compliments@swast.nhs.uk with your name, date the ambulance arrived, address and thank you message and we will ensure this is passed onto to the relevant crew.

Thank you again for taking the time to feedback, I hope you are recovering well!

Kindest regards,

The Patient Engagement Team

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k