"I was admitted to A&E within about..."

What I liked

I was admitted to A&E within about 2hours of developing central chest pain which I knew might be due to cardiac ischaemia. After phoning 999 the ambulance arrived within 10 minutes and a paramedic who inserted a cannula into a vein treated me with a GNT spray and aspirin. An ambulance from L&D arrived shortly afterwards and took over my care until arriving at the hospital. I was examined by the house physican including a chest Xray. By this time the pain had subsided and I was transferred to ward 1 in the hospital, later examined by the consultant and later transferred to the day room in Ward 14, where I was impressed by the competence and care of all members of the staff not only in relation to my own needs but also the needs of other patients. My ECG results at rest and the troponin tests were clear but an excersise ( treadmill ECG )was recommended. I was kept in hospital for another day to carry this out and found it stressful to wait without information about the time when this could be done as I am the carer for my wife who has mobility problems and my daughters standing in for me ahd other responsiblities. I may well have been irritable with the nursing staff until the stress ECG had been carried out and thankfully supplied no evidence that my chest pain had been due to coronary ischaemia. In spite of this period of irrirability I tried to make it clear that I greatly appreciated the high standard of care I had received from the paramedic service and sbsequent attentions in A&E, Ward 1 and Ward 14. Finally, I was impressed by the facilities and good care of stroke patients in ward 14.

What could be improved

The only thing that comes to mind on the basis of my own experience is the need to communicate, as far and as soon as is possible, the progress of arrangements for carrying out recommended tests with awareness of the responsibilites felt by patients for the effect of their absence through illness on members of the familiy, and any work commitments outside the hospital.

Anything else?

Only deserved praise for the overall service provided.