"COVID Survivor - Sugested Improvement"

In late March 20 I was struck down with COVID-19. I’m so grateful for all the dedicated and hardworking NHS Staff, who cared for me in Crosshouse University Hospital, and in particular the many staff who were instrumental in the critical care of my COVID ravaged body and brought me back from the abyss, whilst I was in ICU. No words will ever be enough to express my sincerest gratitude and respect to all who allowed me to live another day.

However, I wish to mention something which is not meant to detract from the lifesaving care that I received and is given only in terms of constructive criticism.

It’s the hospital’s after care after a protracted period of 42 days in ICU.

After ICU care, the first ward I was transferred to after the lifesaving care in ICU was excellent, I believe it was 5b? (the green ward). I was only there a short period, maybe 5 days or so, however the care received, although not of the same concentration of that of ICU, was still excellent. Not quite the one to one, but as near as could be. This care allowed for the gradual build up to some form of normality, given the extensive time in ICU.

I was then somewhat inexplicably moved from that ward, which is in itself is rather distressing and a cause of anxiety, to a general respiratory ward (I believe 3c?) The ward itself was the biggest general ward, with 34 bed spaces and what I can only describe as being clearly understaffed for the number of patients who needed care. 

I have, at this point to make myself as clear as possible. This ward was not suitable for patients who like me had suffered from severe COVID and were beginning the long process of recovery. The ward was not a place where recovery could be delivered, and I would go as far to say it was completely detrimental to the recovery process. Like many recovering COVID survivors, I had/ have many issues, but I did not have the issues of care requirements of the mainly octogenarian patients that filled the general respiratory ward. I found being placed into a ward with ‘difficult’ patients who required more attention than was available for the amount of staff was extremely distressing and personally I could not sleep, due to the many issues of the other patients who were in various states of lucidity, and generally were shouting and crying during the night.

I’m unsure if other COVID survivors were placed into this respiratory ward or maybe I was just unfortunate. However, I am aware that a COVID patient, who was in ICU for a similar period of time as me and was also placed into 5b after ICU was not subjected to a third move of bed space and remained in 5b for his recovery/physiotherapy until discharge. Remaining in this scenario was a more cohesive and co-ordinated care package and more conducive to a speedy recovery.

I don’t know if the situation with COVID patients who have been in a protracted ICU/Critical Care setting is still the same, however I do feel that patients who have been in ICU and have survived COVID, deserve to be cared for in an environment which is complementary to the recovery process and that a COVID recovery ward would be of benefit to all patients and staff. I’m acutely aware that when I was in ward 5b with other patients who had been in a similar predicament, relative to COVID illness, that we were encouraged by each other and could easily compare our individual progress with each other. In particular to have a single area/ward of recovery for the physiotherapy team and the various pieces of equipment needed to get severe COVID patients back on their feet again, would be extremely beneficial. Other health care staff may also benefit from all severe COVID patients being in the same ward, being able to learn from the collective experience.

It is with the above comments in mind that I suggest that consideration be given to the above, particularly in terms of the continued rise of COVID related ICU cases in the Health Board Area of Ayrshire and Arran, and for which I believe that Crosshouse University Hospital will be the focus of that particular care. I do have to reiterate, that all health care staff from the hospital, provided excellent care, I only make the aforementioned comments to make potential suggestions to improve upon the extensive recovery process, for severe COVID patients. Thank you NHS Staff for your continued dedication and care.