"Treatment for pneumonia"

Two weeks ago on a Saturday evening my husband developed a high temperature and breathing difficulties. He has a low immune system following treatment for myeloma and is prone to sudden onset of pneumonia. I called 111 for help and advice, was advised to  sit him near an open window to cool him down and that they would send a medic round to check how he was should he need further treatment.

Around midnight his temperature was almost 40 degrees and was becoming more agitated. I was also becoming more concerned as  his temperature was rising not stabilising. I called 999. who then dispatched an ambulance which arrived very quickly. Joe and Carl, the crew members were brilliant. They assessed him quickly but thoroughly and made the decision to take him directly to the Acute Medical Ward at the Great Western Hospital, by passing A&E as they deemed his condition to be critical. I followed in my car, all along the route from Pewsey to Swindon I could see they were driving in such a way that they were checking that I was still with them.

At the hospital they advised me to go to A&E and let them know that my husband had been taken straight to the Acute Medical Ward whilst they took him to the ward. One of them than came and found me in A&E, once the staff had been informed the ambulance crew member took me to the Acute Medical Ward so that I could be with my husband.

There were no beds available, we just had chairs to sit on. A nurse who came to see him could see that  he need to lie down as he was feeling so unwell and immediately  got a trolley for him so he would be more comfortable. Once he had been seen by a doctor at around 4.00 in the morning I was able to go home, they said they would try and get a bed for him on a ward.

I was woken at about 5.30 by a medic who had been sent to assess my husband following my call to the 111 service earlier on Saturday evening. I had not thought about letting 111 know that things had progressed with my husband's worsening condition and that I had received an ambulance from the 999 service. I  had sort of thought the two were connected and action would be coordinated. I did feel concerned about the wasted trip.

When I visited my husband on Sunday afternoon I was distressed to see that he was still on the trolley as I had left him. However, he was transferred to Teal Ward in the evening when a bed was found for him. 

I was very happy with the care he received on Teal Ward. although I was taken aback when staff said they were not qualified to administer eye drops needed to treat his glaucoma. The drops were originally prescribed by another hospital although we have them on a repeat prescription from our GP. I put the eye drops in for him when I visited him.