"Brilliant care during a difficult time"

I’m a strong advocate for the NHS and it’s staff and have been throughout my life. Whilst I’ve generally had great experiences in the past whenever I’ve required its services, my most recent experience - whilst very challenging for myself and my family - has helped once again to reinforce my position. 

In June, whilst on one of my regular road-bike rides I unexpectedly suffered a seizure (my very first). Having a seizure on a bike is not a tenable situation so unsurprisingly, I crashed. Fortunately, there was no other road-traffic around me at the time and the injuries from my crash were trivial - a little ‘road-rash’ on my lower left leg. Fortunately someone passing dialled 999 and I awoke in the back of an ambulance. The female attending paramedic started asking a bunch of questions I struggled to answer whilst the male paramedic, recognising I had an expensive road-bike, pulled it into the back of the ambulance with me (as well as later ensuring that it was secured in A&E). This was really appreciated - it may seem an inconsequential point - but the fact they took the time to recognise the importance of the bike to me matters. 

A&E staff at GRI then took over and the exemplary care continued. I remember only very short delays in my care, being taken straight through to a curtained bay where initial obs were taken and my wife was able to join me. One of the A&E docs then carried out a physical exam as well as taking a medical history and asking lots of questions, clearly focussed upon determining if I’d suffered a stroke or similar neurological event. She discussed openly with myself and my wife the potential to conduct a CT scan of my head at that time but covered the risk of experiencing such a high dose of radiation when it may not be required - this may prove to be a one-off seizure. Feeling fully informed and involved in the decision I was more than happy to accept this approach. Information regarding legal restrictions on driving were given and I signed the necessary ‘release’ documents. I was told my GP would be informed (and he has been) and that I’d be referred to a First Seizure Clinic. 

A few weeks later (and whilst still awaiting my appointment for the First Seizure Clinic) I suffered a second seizure, this time whilst sitting in a coffee shop with friends. Recognising what was happening one of my friends rang 999 for an ambulance and later contacted my wife to inform her. My other friend looked after me, ensuring I didn’t fall to the floor without support, thereby avoiding further injury and providing comforting words.

Once again, I awoke in the back of the ambulance this time with my wife also in attendance. As with my first seizure, the paramedic staff were brilliant in caring for me and supporting my wife to help me overcome my initial disorientation and calming me. 

The same excellent levels of nursing and medical care continued once at GRI A&E. Following initial obs, history and physical exam - all carried out very soon after arrival - A&E staff consulted either with GRI’s Neurology team or with QEUH Institute of Neurological Sciences. A CT scan was taken and shared with the relevant neurology team. Sadly, for me, the scan identified a ‘lesion’in my brain - the suspected source of my seizures.

Knowing that such a diagnosis was not great with the potential to become much worse on further analysis of the lesion, the compassion and care shown by A&E staff to myself and my wife was really appreciated. Once again, we both felt fully involved in discussing next steps. It was agreed that I’d be admitted to GRI due to the immediate risk of further seizures and to allow regular obs of my condition with the plan to transfer to me QEUH most likely immediately prior to brain surgery to remove the lesion. 

I was initially taken to ward 51 (a receiving ward?) for a couple of nights before being transferred to ward 21 until my transfer to QEUH the subsequent week. The staff in both wards were excellent, keeping a smile on their face through very busy, long shifts whilst providing superlative care and cheery words; even the food served that I heard so many others complaint of was served on schedule, piping hot and was consistently tasty, of good quality and offered variety. 

My transfer to QEUH Institute of Neurological Sciences Ward 34 was ultimately by private hire car which worked fine. I was chaperoned by one of the GRI ward 21 nurses who guided me bed-to-bed, handing me over to the QEUH ward staff and made sure I was AOK before returning to GRI.

In QEUH ward 34 I was initially looked after by Samra who made sure I was oriented in the ward and was comfortable. I met initially with Adi from the neuro-surgery team who was able to show me my scan results for the first time and shared with me the likelihood that the lesion was a malignant tumour (which it indeed proved to be); he discussed with me the team’s planned approach to tumour removal which was scheduled to take place the following morning. Throughout the treatment of my condition at every stage I’ve recognised the extraordinary pace with which steps were taken to make sure I was receiving the right care as rapidly as I needed to in order to maximise the desired outcome. Whilst many may complain of a terribly under-resourced and ‘stretched’ NHS I saw none of that. My experience has been of dedicated, well-trained and highly competent staff consistently delivering excellent service at every turn in, no doubt, challenging circumstances. 

Their technical abilities were more than matched by their understanding and compassion when dealing with the emotional and psychological impact the diagnosis had on myself and family members.

Ultimately my operation went as well as hoped with the bulk of the cancerous tumour cells removed whilst causing no loss in nerve sensation or strength. I was thunderstruck, in fact, to be told as soon as the day following the operation that the team considered well enough for release just 2 days following my major brain surgery.

The immediate post-op symptoms which I’d been fully briefed on so were expected - largely caused by the brain swelling as a result of the op - had disappeared within a week of my release from QEUH and as each additional day passes I feel better. Recuperating at home is fantastic!

I now have the ongoing battle with the remnants of my malignant tumour at The Beatson which will be tough, I’m sure, but the technically brilliant medical team with their state-of-the-art resources, all of the paramedic, A&E and ward nursing staff at GRI and QEUH involved in my care to keep me alive and get me to here have given me the chance to fight that could have been so quickly snatched away. I and my family owe a huge debt of gratitude to each and every member of the team.