"Thank you for the wonderful caring for my father"

We wanted to write to say thank you to everyone involved in the care of my father who was taken ill on Sunday 5th May while we were staying at the Warner’s Sinah Warren Hotel on Hayling Island.

All of the staff from the Ambulance team to the A&E team to the Frailty department and the Patient Transport service were absolutely marvellous and incredible in their professionalism and also their caring for Dad and us. My father’s surname is Connell.

My father is 91 and had polio when younger so is quite infirm and can only walk very short distances.

Below is a summary of the day :-

Morning around 8 – we called 111 and after a short period of assessment they called the paramedics to come out to assist with my father. From the time of the call to the arrival of the ambulance team was very short and less than 30 minutes. The ambulance team were so helpful and lifted my father from where he was stuck onto his wheelchair and we so kind and thorough in their checks. The team were completely calm and really helped reduce everyone’s stress levels. It was decided that he needed to go to the Queen Alexandra Hospital and they transferred him to a stretcher for the journey. My mother want with him in the ambulance and we followed by car shortly afterwards.

In A&E my father was assessed and it was decided to move him into the ‘Major’ ward while his blood test results were awaited.

After a while it was decided that there were no serious problems so my father was transferred to the Frailty unit for assessment. My parents live in Sussex and this was Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend.

The team in this unit were marvellous and it was decided that, if my father could get up and about then he could be transferred home rather than to a hospital in Sussex (or remain overnight at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth). They got him mobile and it was decided that he could return home (where he has several mobility aids such as adjustable bed and seat) and then it came down to transport availability. The doctor in the frailty unit could not have been more helpful in trying to arrange transport by ambulance to Sussex. Initially it was thought that none would be available until the following day but just after 6pm we were advised that there would be an ambulance to take him home at 7 15pm.

The ambulance team and frailty team were marvellous in getting Dad ready for the journey. My wife went in the ambulance with him and I drove my Mother home. Once again the 2 guys were brilliant and got Dad settled at home by around 9:30 to 10pm.

It was an incredibly long and stressful day made bearable by the support we all received from the staff in the ambulances and also at the hospital. Their kindness was really moving and we felt we had to write to say a massive ‘thank you’ to them all.