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My heart attack and after

Posted By Eugene de la Croix

"My heart attack and after"

About: Downe Community Services / Community Rehab Team Lagan Valley Hospital / Coronary Care Unit Lagan Valley Hospital / Day Hospital Lisburn Health Centre - Dr. Ryan & Partners Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response Royal Victoria Hospital / Accident & Emergency

(as the patient),

In August 2021 I suffered severe chest pain at home in Lisburn. My wife called 999 and an ambulance arrived in about 12 minutes. After the paramedics did initial tests and treatment they rushed me, with blues and twos, to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where I was taken immediately to the cath lab where a heart attack was confirmed. The surgeon and the team inserted a stent right away. The whole event lasted about one and a half hours from occurrence to procedure and admission as an inpatient. The next day I was repatriated to my local hospital, the Cardiac Unit of the Lagan Valley (LVH).

The team of nurses, doctors and ultrasound technicians at the LVH treated me very kindly and, in my opinion, exceptionally. I would like to particularly commend the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service under Luna and Andrea. Their knowledge, experience and calm assurances made my 3 day stay in the LVH as good as it could possibly be. Also their attendance with the physical trainer, Tory, at the rehabilitation sessions afterwards was always a reassurance. 

I would also commend the joint working practice with the PARS Dept of the Lagan Valley Council whose trainers, Tory and, latterly, Gareth , helped both me and the other attendees to get back to fitness and to encourage us to keep doing the exercises.

I have had reviews since the event and again the staff were fantastic.

My treatment by the ambulance crews, the frontline staff at the RVH and the in the LVH and my follow up reviews has been excellent and I could not commend all concerned highly enough. 

I should also say that the follow up by the GP's staff in Dr Ryan's practice at Lisburn Health Centre in terms of arranging prescriptions etc has also been excellent.

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Responses

Response from Demi McKay, Personal Public Involvement & Patient Experience, Quality & Safety Improvement, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service nearly 2 years ago
Demi McKay
Personal Public Involvement & Patient Experience, Quality & Safety Improvement,
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

work with service users of NIAS, chair of stakeholder forum events

Submitted on 15/08/2022 at 12:01
Published on Care Opinion at 12:01

picture of Demi McKay

Dear Eugene de la Croix

Thank you for taking the time to share your very detailed story, particualrly during what sounds to have been a frantic situation for you and your wife.

I wish to recognise the pre hospital experience with our ambulance colleagues who attended to you. It is heartwarming to hear of the courteous and efficient service received.

Our staff are experts at dealing with urgent situations such as this and I am delighted to hear you were quickly triaged over the telephone and a detailed assessment carried out on scene to ensure the right clinical treatment and care was delivered in a timely order.

We work very hard in achieving optimal outcomes for our patients by providing the right response, in the right place based on clinical need for every call. We acknowledge that during these challenging and very pressured times for all Health and Social Care staff, kind words, like what you have shared, can go towards helping boost morale.

I would very much like to share the compliments you have made with the crew members who conveyed you to hospital. I would need a few extra details to do so, for which I can be contacted directly on demi.mckay@nias.hscni.net - I look forward to hearing from you.

I hope you are keeping well.

Best wishes,

Demi McKay

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Response from Linsey Sheerin, Divisional Nurse, Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Care, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust about a year and a half ago
Linsey Sheerin
Divisional Nurse, Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Care,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 10/11/2022 at 18:38
Published on Care Opinion at 18:38

Dear Eugene de la Croix,

My name is Linsey Sheerin, I am the Service Manager for Urgent and Emergency Care at Belfast Trust. From the outset I wish to apologise for the delay in responding to you. Thank you for taking the time to leave such positive feedback, I will ensure that your comments are shared with staff. This is a true example of being able to deliver the right care, at the right time, in a timely way. Our staff strive to deliver this for every patient however unfortunately at time this can be challenging. Please do not underestimate the impact your kind words will have.

I sincerely hope that you are continuing to make good progress and are currently well.

Linsey

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Update posted by Eugene de la Croix (the patient)

Hi Linsey

That's no problem, I didn't expect a reply, I just wanted to express my appreciation. I'm doing really well, thank you, due to the prompt and excellent treatment I received and to the follow up rehab which I finished just a few weeks ago.

I'm keeping up the exercises, some people would say almost obsessively. However, I'm determined not to spoil the great work of so many of your colleagues.

EdlC

Response from Linsey Sheerin, Divisional Nurse, Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Care, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust about a year and a half ago
Linsey Sheerin
Divisional Nurse, Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Care,
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Submitted on 11/11/2022 at 09:32
Published on Care Opinion at 09:32

That's brilliant to hear, life is so precious, keep up the good work!

Linsey

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Response from Conor Campbell, Senior Manager, Assurance and Improvement, South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust about a year and a half ago
Conor Campbell
Senior Manager, Assurance and Improvement,
South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

Assurance and improvement

Submitted on 16/11/2022 at 10:48
Published on Care Opinion at 10:48

picture of Conor Campbell

Dear Eugene

Thank you for sharing your experience.

It is great to hear how well you have been looked after by Lagan Valley Hospital, NIA and Belfast HSC Trust.

Your story has been shared with Andrea, Luna, Tori, Gareth and partners at Lagan valley Hospital who greatly appreciate your kind words.

I am very glad that you have found the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service to be so beneficial and hope that you continue to stay well.

Best wishes

Conor

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Update posted by Eugene de la Croix (the patient)

Thank you, Conor.

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