"Vigilant A&E Doctor at RIE"

I attended A&E at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh in August with what i though was indigestion.  I was referred there after speaking to NHS 24, I was surprised to see how busy the department was, it was a Tuesday evening but was very very busy, i though i was in for a long night.

I only had a 15 minute wait before i was taken through and some tests were done, i waited abut half an hour after that and my Dr came over, Dr Waters. I was assessed thoroughly, i felt very stressed and anxious but Dr Waters was fantastic, he reassured me and he listened to my concerns, and he gave me alot of his time to look at my symptoms.

After lots of checks, it was concluded i had an acid reflux issue, given i thought that i had indigestion, this fitted with how i was feeling, i was given some tablets and discharged, great, i thought id be home and in my own bed !

Unfortunately one of my blood tests had not come back yet, i was surprised when I was walking across the car park to go home that Dr Waters was sprinting after me, he told me one of my blood tests had not come back yet and id have to come back in.  He apologised, however there was no need, i was just impressed that at the end of what had been a very busy shift for him that he had the energy to come out after me but also very grateful that he did. 

Once the blood test came back, Dr Waters told me id had a Heart Attack, i am only in my 30's so this was a huge shock and completely unexpected, my Dr was going off shift but stayed on to reassure me and to make sure i got a bed and that the monitoring started straight away, i could see he was exhausted from his busy shift so i really appreciate him doing that for me and also comforting me when i was upset. 

I am very grateful to Dr Waters for all he done for me, when i was moved to a ward and getting treatment for my Heart Attack, i was also told i had diabetes.  I knew noting about this, another complete surprise, i was told i was about to become dangerously ill and end up in Intensive Care if it wasn't brought under control. So i am so thankful, that despite Dr Waters clearly having had a very busy night, he was vigilant enough to ensure all my tests were checked and he ensured i was admitted for monitoring and treatment started quickly, he played a big part in getting me on the right track and in front of the specialists who treated me very quickly but that they also found my diabetes early on which saved me from so many complications and being seriously ill. 

I also had two fantastic nurses on the ward that evening, i cant remember there names but if you find them, please pass on my thanks, they helped me so much, they were reassuring and comforting when i was scared and unsure about what was going on and they monitored me so well throughout the night and popped in to make sure i was ok, the care they gave me was priceless. 

I was shocked to see how busy A&E was and how under staffed and lack of resources you have to work with, yet you continue to provide a caring and outstanding service, well done to you all. 

I hope Dr Waters had a restful evening, well deserved and despite being his last patient that evening, he provided me fantastic care and i felt he went above and beyond to help me, and although extremely tired, he was still alert and provided me care with compassion and a smile, i will be forever grateful to him for the part he played in saving my life. 

Im glad to say i was treated very quickly once on the ward the and i made a full and speedy recovery from my Heart Attack, and the diabetes is now under control and being managed, i am very thankful to our wonderful NHS Staff for all they did for me. 

Please look after yourselves too, i saw lots of exhausted Nurses and Doctors in A&E, your health is just as important too, please take care x