"My Covid Journey"

I was anaemic and feeling unwell.  I was on the phone to the GP.  I had to have a blood test.  I had a call back from the GP.  I had to go to hospital straight away.  I attended Antrim ED.  I was seen very quickly.  I had breathing problems.  The staff when I first went in were brilliant.  I was moved to a sideroom.   I was in ED for 14 hours.  The staff coming in and out of the sideroom were very thorough.  They did a Covid test. 

The night staff came on.  Some were okay.  A member of staff told me my Covid test was positive.  Towards the end of the time in ED I became very anxious.  I asked for pain relief but felt ignored.  I told the staff that I suffer from panic attacks and asked if I could get some medication for anxiety.  The nurse was dismissive and I felt like they didn't care.  I felt like they were ignoring me when I was buzzing for help.  My anxiety was so bad, I had a panic attack.  The nurse said you're not getting any tablets until you get to the ward. 

They then said I was going to A4.  I asked the doctor why they didn't prescribe me tablets and they said they had never been bleeped. They knew nothing about it.

The treatment in A4 was fantastic.  They gave me diazepam straight away and reassured me.  They took time with me. Just spending some time and talking helped.  The treatment was first class.  I couldn't fault them.  The ward was clean and tidy.  The staff are run off their feet.

It was hard to know that someone had passed away and I could see the impact it had on staff.

I was then transferred to Whiteabbey Nightingale.  Again first class.  I get to see the physio.  The weakness and the breathing make it difficult to mobilise.  The staff are very helpful.  If I can get the breathing settled, I look forward to getting home.