I had to go to A& E earlier this week, due to one of my current health issues (skipping heart and palpitations) becoming unbearable. I was incredibly anxious about going, as I had a very bad experience earlier in the year.
However, I'm really relieved to say that my experience this week was completely different. Staff were all aware (apart from one, who apologised as soon as he realised) that I couldn't walk and would need to be left on a bed or trolley since I didn't have my own wheelchair with specialised seating with me, and were really very attentive in making sure that I wasn't too uncomfortable. I was in A& E for a while, and was tended to by a very helpful HCA whose name I think was Saheeda (I've probably spelt that wrong! ) she was great, and then I was moved to the new Ambulatory Care Unit, where the staff were also very helpful, particularly Victor. Although they weren't able to resolve my problem as we are waiting for some more results, the doctors have tried to speed up the time it will take to get those results, and they were respectful to me and explained everything in a non patronising way. I can't explain how relieved I am that I was treated so differently to the beginning of the year, as I was absolutely dreading having to go in via ambulance again without my powerchair, but as I said, it turned out to be a much better experience. I'm particularly grateful to the nurse Zoe on the Ambulatory Unit, for making it possible for me to get home again, which was one of my main worries about going to hospital.Overall, I really can't fault my most recent experience one bit, right down from the paramedics arriving, to when I was discharged, everyone was brilliant.
"Everyone was brilliant"
About: Derriford Hospital / Accident and emergency Derriford Hospital Accident and emergency Plymouth PL6 8DH South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust / Emergency ambulance South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Emergency ambulance Exeter EX2 7HY
Posted by DL28 (as ),
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