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To all who saved my husbands life

Posted By Gratefullwife

"To all who saved my husbands life"

About: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Breathing and lung problems (Respiratory Wards 7a, 7b, 7c & 7d) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Cardiology (Heart Conditions) Wards 6c & 6d Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Critical Care Scottish Ambulance Service / Ambulance Control Centre Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance

(as a relative),

On Monday 5th April my husband collapsed at home, he was blue and sweating profusely and I could not feel a pulse, once I got him on   the floor and started CPR he became conscious but not breathing properly, I honestly cannot remember everything but I do know the SAS call handler stayed on the line with me and a first responder seemed to be there in minutes followed by a paramedic crew.

I cannot thank them enough for the care and compassion they showed   my husband and myself. When he was taken to QEUH I honestly did not think I would see him alive again.... it is agonising not to be able to go to the hospital with a loved one but as a nurse I understood the rational. My husband was taken directly to resus and following a CT scan a massive pulmonary embolism was diagnosed also compromising the right side of his heart. I was called to attend the hospital... I knew then that there was a strong possibility he may not make it. I cannot remember everyone who came and spoke with me, but every single person was amazing... kind and compassionate to the situation.... due to all of the expertise and excellent medical treatment   they managed to stabilise my husband.

When I saw him 3 hrs later he was sitting up, receiving high flow oxygen looking pink and completely cohesive.   It then became apparent my husband was one of those really unlucky statistics! The blood clot was related to his AZ vaccine 2 weeks previously. His care was monitored by a national team no better treatment or care could have been given.  

He was transferred to HDU 7   where his care continued to be excellent, I was kept up to date with his progress regularly and following continued improvement he transferred to ward 7B. Amazingly he continued getting better daily and since being able to come of oxygen he is now being discharged home today. It has been quite a journey for us both, I wish I could thank everyone personally from the bottom of my heart for saving my wonderful husbands life and my daughter’s fabulous dad but due to the pandemic I hope they get to read this. I want people who read this to understand that my husband was unfortunate but the statistics show this really was unlucky... I will continue to support the Covid vaccine ... Support the NHS always xx

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Responses

Response from Euan Elder, Digital Engagement Officer, PEPI, NHSGGC 3 years ago
Euan Elder
Digital Engagement Officer, PEPI,
NHSGGC

Submitted on 16/04/2021 at 16:57
Published on Care Opinion at 17:18

picture of Euan Elder

Dear Gratefullwife,

I am sorry to hear about what must have been a really stressful and frightening time for both you and your husband. However, I am so pleased about the positive outcome, and wish your husband a speedy and successful recovery.

It’s heart-warming to hear that staff supported you from that initial phone call and kept you up to date about your husband’s progress. It’s very reassuring knowing that staff provide the kind and compassionate care that any of us would want in those circumstances.

I will make sure your post is shared with A&E, HDU and Ward 7B, as I’m sure they will also be thrilled to hear how the story ends.

Wishing you and your family well.

Kind Regards,

Euan

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Response from Alan Martin, Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement, Scottish Ambulance Service 3 years ago
Alan Martin
Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 19/04/2021 at 09:44
Published on Care Opinion at 09:45

picture of Alan Martin

Dear Gratefullwife

Firstly, thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback here on CareOpinion. I am so sorry to read about your husbands PE and cardiac compromise. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult a time this must have been for you, your husband and your family. I am so pleased to hear that your husband is now being discharged back home with his wife and daughter.

It is always positive to hear when our staff, and the staff of our partners in the wider NHS, do a good job and make any terrifying situation that bit easier to process; but there is something very special about the stories where someone has suffered a cardiac arrest out of hospital and is now walking out the hospital. As a fellow healthcare professional I am sure you will also know this is also statistically unlikely. In this case however, after reading your story, it would appear the real hero of the story is you. The speed at which someone has good quality CPR performed on them when suffering a cardiac arrest has a huge impact on whether or not their chances of survival are high or not. The fact you recognised your husband had suffered a cardiac arrest and that you then started CPR instantly will have had, in no doubt in my mind, the biggest effect towards his survival.

I would be more than happy to have my team pass on your wonderful comments to the call handler and crew if you so wish. In order to do this we will need a few more details. If you could email sas.feedback@nhs.scot and provide the date, rough time and address that the crews attended your husband they will be able to locate the call and pass on these details. If you would also be so kind as to make reference to your CareOpinion username also on this email so that if it is another member of the team that picks it up, they can easily link your email to this story.

Thanks again for your feedback and I wish you all the very best. Please pass on my well wishes to your husband also.

Kind Regards

Alan

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Response from Lesley Kay, Patient Experience Team Leader, Corporate Affairs, Scottish Ambulance Service 3 years ago
Lesley Kay
Patient Experience Team Leader, Corporate Affairs,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 19/04/2021 at 10:47
Published on Care Opinion at 14:19

Dear Gratefullwife

Thank you for taking the time to post your Feedback here on CareOpinion. The situation you have described sounds both stressful and terriying for you and your husband.

I am so pleased to read about the wonderful care given to your husband by our staff and also the wider NHS and, of course, to heat of the positive outcome of the situation.

I do hope your husband is on the road to recovery and feeling much better!

If you would like your lovely comments to be passed back to our staff, I can certainly arrange that for you. If so, please may I ask you email sas.feedback@nhs.scot with your husband's name, date, time and address of where we attended. It would also be extremely helpful if you made reference to your CareOpinion username which will enable us to easily link to this story.

Thanks again

Best Wishes to you both

Lesley

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Response from Heather Richardson, Interim General Manager, Emergency & Acute Medicine, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde 3 years ago
Heather Richardson
Interim General Manager, Emergency & Acute Medicine,
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Submitted on 19/04/2021 at 15:41
Published on Care Opinion at 15:42

Dear Gratefulwife,

Thank you so much for posting your feedback on Care Opinion. I especially want to thank you for taking the time to share your experience after what must have been a very anxious time for both you and your husband.

I am glad to read that you and your husband felt supported throughout his journey and even more delighted to read that he has been discharged,

I have made sure that the post has been shared with the imaging team at the QEUH to reinforce the important part they play within the wider hospital.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and on behalf of the team we wish your husband a speedy recovery.

Kind Regards

Heather Richardson

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