"I have nothing but praise for the workforce"

We hear so many stories of poor medical treatment, well my story is somewhat different.

It started after returning from a lovely cruise to the Med. I picked up a chest infection which also resulted in the loss of hearing in my left ear. Our local surgery has a walk in clinic on Monday morning which I attended hoping for antibiotics to clear my infection. After a week on antibiotics nothing had improved so I attended again for a double dose of antibiotics. Things improved slowly and I could feel a warm sensation on my shoulder bones. Thinking that the situation was improving we decided to drive to York to visit family and friends. After 4 days I woke with this warm sensation again, this sensation lasted about 5 minutes. I thought, yes things are getting better but suggested we should travel the 250 miles home to attend the doctor for further antibiotics. I was extremely lucky to get a cancellation appointment and was seen by my doctor at the surgery. He wasn’t too convinced on my self analysis and referred me to the cardiac ward at Ninewells Hospital. I was not experiencing any noticeable symptoms of cardiac problems but extensive procedures and tests showed that I had experienced a severe heart attack the previous night.

I was duly dispatched to the intensive care ward and wired up for any recurrence. After extensive tests over the next few days the cardiograph showed that I had severe heart damage which would require surgery in Edinburgh asap. After 10 days I was transferred by ambulance to Edinburgh for open heart triple bypass. The surgery went to plan and I was released on my expected day.

The recovery went well at home but after a week my breathing was troublesome and I called NHS 24 who dispatched an ambulance and 2 paramedics who decided another trip to A & E was recommended, tests there suggested pneumonia and pleurisy requiring more antibiotics, further visits for X-rays, M.R.I. Scans, echo graphs and a procedure to remove 2 litres of fluids from my lungs.

Recovery was rapid thereafter.

I was allocated a cardiac rehab nurse in St Andrews.

At last I felt I was not alone on my road to recovery, Julie was exceptionally caring and helpful, she picked up the pieces from Ninewells and Edinburgh and put my experience together, giving me confidence to continue on the road to recovery. She then referred me to Rosie at the cardiac rehab nurse in the exercise gym at Cupar. The weekly exercise class has given me the confidence to push myself on to a speedy recovery. 

My story from start to finish has been amazing, I can not talk more highly of the treatment which i received from nurses, doctors,  clinicians, surgeons in fact everyone paramedics, ambulance drivers and clerical staff.

If I had any dissatisfaction I guess it was the lack of involvement from my local doctor’s surgery, 5 months after my referral (for which I am extremely grateful for as the doctor saved my life, in my opinion) I have yet to hear a single word or referral for a progress report from my doctors. Seems strange to me that no follow up happens to patients who have gone through so much trauma, is this normal practice or have I been missed?

I cannot thank the individuals enough for the manner in which they dealt with me, the stories in newspapers make me angry as to how bad the NHS is, I know how difficult it is to treat everyone the way they want , but I have nothing but praise for the workforce who have to put up with certain situations which in my opinion could be avoided. Come on government, give them the rewards they deserve, staff up the wards, make more beds available, keep our trained doctors and nurses in our own hospitals.