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"Lack of support feel isolated"

About: Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Emergency department Altnagelvin Area Hospital / Maternity care Omagh Primary Care Complex / Podiatry South West Acute Hospital / Emergency Care and Medicine Services

(as a service user),

Lack of support feel isolated; not enough training into diabetes type 1 care especially within hospitals

1. Severely let down during pregnancy - no one listened; lost my notes confirming I had type A flu; didn’t know which ward to put me into before my baby was born; long time before I actually got admitted; left in isolated room; lack of empathy from carers; resulting in ketoacidosis emergency surgery and intensive care for both me & baby - happened whilst in the care of altnagelvin. Psychological scarred from experience.

Was never given option or even discussed to have statin prescribed to me as I’ve been diabetic type 1 for 30 yrs; had heart attack 6 months ago age 40. Rang ambulance one evening in December 2020 explained severe severe chest pain; waited hour and half still no ambulance dispensed. Went to bed until 2.40am when pain started again. Went to SWAH enniskillen; waited 22 hrs in A&E before being admitted to ward; no facilities for heart echo or stent procedure. Had to wait 2 further days for heart ambulance to move me to altnagelvin.

I feel that services are very poor especially in diabetes care. Had to call GP several times re foot appt apparently these have now been moved to hospitals. Attended foot appt eventually one week ago. Assessment tool was very basic - I did not feel I was assessed correctly. I feel after 30 yrs of having diabetes things have gone backwards in terms of care and support. Pregnancy care esp pre pregnancy has also been appalling and far from sufficient- emotionally especially. There are so many recommendations I could advise - but feel I would be wasting my time as there’s no money to make things better!

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Responses

Response from Eileen Dolan, Interim Head of Allied health professions, Allied health professions, WHSCT 3 years ago
Eileen Dolan
Interim Head of Allied health professions, Allied health professions,
WHSCT
Submitted on 16/08/2021 at 11:37
Published on Care Opinion at 15:07


Hi Zarah

My name is Eileen Dolan- thank you for taking time out to share your comments, I am sorry to read about your experience. During the pandemic, Podiatry has had to prioritise our most urgent patients and this has resulted in an increased wait for other groups. Can you contact the department on Podiatry.Image @westerntrust.hscni.net or 02871865100 so we can respond directly to the issues you have raised.

Thanks

Eileen

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Response from Vi Gray, Professional Nursing Support , PCOP, Western Health & Social Care Trust 3 years ago
Vi Gray
Professional Nursing Support , PCOP,
Western Health & Social Care Trust

encourage people to share their experiences of health and social care, what matters to you, what you particularly liked or disliked so that we can share with the relevant department, and staff .

Submitted on 23/08/2021 at 13:14
Published on Care Opinion at 13:14


picture of Vi Gray

Thank you Zarah for sharing this. I am so sorry that your experience was not as what you hoped for during your pregnancy

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding but just to reassure you that this has been shared with the Diabetes Network Manager who will respond to you directly.

Regards

Vi Gray

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Response from Lesley Hamilton, Diabetes Network Manager, Acute, WHSCT 3 years ago
Lesley Hamilton
Diabetes Network Manager, Acute,
WHSCT
Submitted on 23/08/2021 at 14:23
Published on Care Opinion at 14:23


picture of Lesley Hamilton

Hello Zarah.

My Name is Lesley Hamilton and I am the Diabetes Network Manager for the WHSCT. We are sorry that you went through a difficult time and that you felt let down.

There has been a lot of work and input that has gone into Diabetes in pregnancy care over the last few years but it is unfortunate this was not reflected in your case. I would like to offer you the opportunity to contact me Lesley.Hamilton@westerntrust.hscni.net or Vi.Gray@westerntust.hscni.net so we can to discuss this in more detail with the team as you have raised several specific issues. We are keen to discuss and to improve services.

Kind Regards

Lesley Hamilton

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