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Care Opinion

Excellent care after a heart attack

Posted By Ballroom Dancer

"Excellent care after a heart attack"

About: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France / Accident & Emergency Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France / Cardiology & Coronary Care Unit Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France / High Dependency Unit & Intensive Care Unit Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance

(as a relative),

My husband suffered a cardiac arrest whist teaching our ballroom dance class. The immediate response from our dancers allowed the care system to begin. A huge shout out to the paramedics and especially to all the staff in ICU Ward 118 at Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. My husband received excellent care as did I and my two daughters.

The ICU consultant and the nursing team ... well their are no adjectives to totally describe how we feel about you. You were wonderful. You gave us hope in a very tricky time. We would like to name check Alan as we got to know him over the two days he spent nursing my husband. Small touches of kindness above his nursing to my husband, me and my girls were highly meaningful.   Our heart felt thanks to Chloe, Nicole and Melissa, The senior staff nurse who's name we didnt get but was so very calm and reassuring and the ICU consultant Monica and Ken for their patience.

We really did feel that we were listened to and given the opportunity to ask questions. The feeling of calm and tranquility in the ICU unit was tangible. The team in Ward 114 in Cardiology were very caring and made my husband and us feel very safe.   Thanks to Samantha and Heather.  

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Responses

Response from Alan Martin, Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement, Scottish Ambulance Service 4 years ago
Alan Martin
Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 02/07/2019 at 13:04
Published on Care Opinion at 13:04

picture of Alan Martin

Dear Ballroom Dancer,

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story and feedback with us all on CareOpinion. Firstly, I am so sorry that your husband suffered from a cardiac arrest. I cannot imagine what you went through but it must have been terrifying. I am just relieved to read that it happened in a place with others who knew what to do in such a situation.

I am however, pleased to read all of your lovely comments around the staff in NHS Scotland, and in particular for me, our crew who attended. It is the highest priority call that any crew can get sent to and while we practice and prepare as best we can, every out of hospital cardiac arrest is different and as I am sure you aware, the odds are against us all. It requires leadership and teamwork to offer the best chances. But, ultimately, the credit must be given to your wonderful dancers who it appears acted very quickly and provided your husband with the best chance.

I would like to forward your comments onto the crew involved and let them know how your husband is getting on. If you would like for this to happen, may I ask you email me at alan.martin2@nhs.net and provide me with the date, time and location of where we attended along with your husbands name.

If I may ask if you would be kind enough to pass on my best wishes to your husband and I would also like to wish you all the very best as well.

Kind Regards

Alan

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Update posted by Ballroom Dancer (a relative)

Hi Alan

Yes if you could let the paramedics know as they undertook CPR, stabilised my husband and took him promptly to RIE.

I think the advanced practitioner was called Joel. The whole team were very professional, very calm and supported myself and my dancers in a very difficult situation.

Just to say he is home. He had 2 stents fitted but has should make a full recovery and get back on the dance floor which is his passion.

He has minimal heart damage which is just great.

Still very tired but wow without the closeness of the paramedics and their care he would not be here.

Thank you most sincerely

Response from Alan Martin, Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement, Scottish Ambulance Service 4 years ago
Alan Martin
Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 03/07/2019 at 08:56
Published on Care Opinion at 08:56

picture of Alan Martin

Hi,

Thanks very much for this. That is really great news. I have received the unredacted version to my email from our friends at CareOpinion and I will do my best to trace the crew and pass on your comments and update.

Kind Regards

Alan

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Response from Michelle Jack, Associate Nurse Director, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian 4 years ago
Michelle Jack
Associate Nurse Director, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 04/07/2019 at 08:01
Published on Care Opinion at 09:35

picture of Michelle Jack

Thank you so much for your kind feedback to our ICU team. We are very pleased to hear your husband is doing well and he will get back to his dancing. Nothing makes us happier than hearing this.

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