I'd not been feeling 100% for some time, with breathlessness on exertion, and a session at the Borders Chest Pain Clinic led to my being placed on the waiting list for an angiogram. Over the next week my symptoms worsened significantly, culminating in a middle-of-the-night 999 call and ambulance journey to Borders General Hospital, where A&E staff suspected something rather more than simply angina. I was given an injection of anti-coagulant, and a subsequent CT scan revealed a number of blood clots on my lungs, plus some associated heart damage. Treatment began straight away, and I spent the next 4 days in the High Dependency Unit in Ward 5, after which time my condition had improved sufficiently for me to be discharged - a relieved man sent home to a relieved wife and family!
There is no doubt that I owe my life to the prompt diagnosis and treatment from the paramedics and the staff at A&E; and equally that my initial recovery was helped enormously by the skill and care of the Ward 5 staff - medical, nursing, and support - and their friendliness, the way they kept me informed about what was happening and why, and the (often quite sick!!) sense of humour that characterised our interactions. I cannot thank them all enough, on behalf of myself and my family.
"Superb care at Borders General Hospital"
About: Borders General Hospital / Accident & Emergency Borders General Hospital Accident & Emergency TD6 9BS Borders General Hospital / Intensive & Critical Care Borders General Hospital Intensive & Critical Care Melrose TD6 9BS Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance Scottish Ambulance Service Emergency Ambulance EH12 9EB
Posted by John-with-three-daughters (as ),
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Update posted by John-with-three-daughters (the patient) 5 years ago
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