Our Brilliant NHS

I'm not this will do it justice but here are a few thoughts from me!

What a Month!

It started with a quiet Birthday (and everyone who knows me would say that was perfect for me). Then amazed at my good fortune to do my daily exercise, on foot, from home to the best reserves in Northumberland (notably East Chevington, Druridge Pools, Cresswell and Widdrington Moor). Trying not to be smug on my tweets I happily plodded down the road every morning at 6am, rarely seeing another person.

Suddenly on Wednesday I was struck with some abdominal pains. My stomach was bloated and the pain excruciating. I asked the pharmacist for advice, they were most helpful so with a couple of mugs of Peppermint Tea down me I looked forward to a good nights rest. Oh no! Not a wink of sleep and I woke to find my belly swollen like a pregnant woman at full-term and in agony. Not wishing to burden the NHS I asked if I could have a telephone appointment. The GP noted my concern and organised a visit to A&E Cramlington. A hastily packed carrier bag and I was off in the ambulance hoping I was not heading there to waste their time. Everyone I met had the greatest concern for my well-being and with a multitude of blood tests, pressure readings and a CT scan I waited for the consultants. Very quickly they told me I was being admitted straight away and immediately set up drips and an infusion to thin the blood.

All around me Porters, Cleaners, Nurses, Doctors, Consultants etc., were very busy. My afternoon was filled with repeated tests and I then tried to sleep. Another sleepless night and a painful one so more tests and a diagnosis of something not commonly seen. Happy with the blood tests they decided an operation was not necessary and transferred me to the Wansbeck. Whilst there you got the full scale of the efforts made by the NHS. People moving in and out regularly. Each bed having to be stripped and cleaned. Alarms on cannulas going off in the middle of the night because of an accidental movement. Just when you expect a quiet period a buzzer for staff a patient has soiled himself. This was the most amazing sight of all, within 15 minutes they had him cleaned, dressed and the bed washed down. All the time the reassuring words that made the patient feel loved. It wasn’t his fault it, it wasn’t a problem and dealt with so calmly. Only minutes later a tube knocked out by a patient resulting in a trail of blood spurts. Quickly fixed, re clothed and the floor wiped clean. Bloody Amazing People.

This was the first time I had been admitted to Hospital, although I’ve always known it was a service I could rely on when needed, it was heart-warming to see it in action. There were a multitude of other examples of the professionalism and tenderness of the staff but it would take many more pages. Let us hope that the legacy of the current crisis is that when it is all over the extra staffing, resources and respect continue unchanged. Government are praising the NHS for their efforts now but it MUST continue like this crisis or no crisis long into the future.

THANK YOU!

Our NHS is Brilliant!