"Excellent response to emergency ambulance call out"

In mid-Feb 2015 my husband rang our local GP as I had been violently sick, and everything was running from me - sitting on the loo with a bowl in front of me for at least 24 hours.

I am 79 years old and have to have regular 5-weekly blood transfusions. My registered Doctor was unable to come out himself so he sent a young doctor colleague from the practice. She did the usual obs and said she was not happy and rang for an ambulance to take me to hospital. This was at 12 noon.

We received a telephone call about 6pm to say I hadn't been forgotten, but the ambulance crew had had a number of emergencies hence delay. Eventually at 7:30pm a First Responder arrived, followed by a Paramedic who did another series of obs.

Then the ambulance arrived and the total care and consideration, courtesy and comforting friendliness and quiet professionalism were outstanding. After assessing the situation - it was obvious I could not leave the loo long enough to undertake the 25 mile journey to Cheltenham Hospital - and, if it was a 'bug' would they accept me?

I was massively dehydrated and still retching unable to keep a sip of water down, in a lot of pain and distressed. After an abortive attempt to get a cannula in to my arm, I was given an injection - and that stopped the vomiting and retching. The crew stayed with me keeping me wired up for obs and assessing the situation until I assured them I was already feeling a bit more human - they gave me a round of applause and all smiled... it was wonderful. They made me feel special - and it was a joy to see the relief spreading over my husband's face.

I am a professional writer and I want to record my gratitude to this crew who saw me at my most vulnerable, bedraggled, low ebb ... their relief at my response was obvious. I tried to commiserate about what must be the down side to their daily work and their reply was that they loved the job as they were able to help people. Thank God for such wonderful people, the NHS in general and the crew in particular.

I insisted they let me have their names:

Paul Isles CFR. No 2450

Graham Turner, paramedic - 24455045

Helen Bridges, ECA - 11186757

Ian Anderson, paramedic - 10646481