"Great care received at the RD&E Hospital"

I have been a patient at the RD&E since November 2022 and I would like to provide feedback about the excellent care I have received.

I was transported to the hospital on the morning by two fantastic ambulance staff, Leona and Taff. They patiently took my history, carried out an ECG and made the decision to take me to A&E. They were cheerful, professional and effective at their work and reassured both me and my wife at a very stressful time.

At the RD&E A&E department I met nurses Manuela and Junior Doctor Dan. Both acted pro-actively and professionally taking my history and organising tests. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation at this time and referred to the Acute Medicine Emergency Day Care Unit. I’m grateful to all the staff in A&E for their prompt, efficient and effective treatment that morning.

In the acute medicine emergency unit we met nurses Paul and Maria as well as medical consultant Rebecca. They organised more tests, confirmed my diagnosis (AF and heart failure) and organised medication for me. I began my medication in the unit and they confirmed that my situation had stabilised before sending me home as part of the hospital at home service. Although the unit was busy beyond reason, they took great care to look after me, communicate what was happening, treat me and reassure me as the day progressed.

In the following weeks, I made many visits to the acute medicine emergency unit, gave copious samples of blood and had ECGs done. All the staff I met were efficient and professional and I was grateful for all their hard work. These staff included consultant Simon, Charge Nurse Paul, Maria, Nurse Practitioner Paul, Ian, Frances and many others who’s names I didn’t learn. Giving blood samples is for most patients (including me) an unpleasant but necessary experience but it makes a huge difference if the person taking the blood is skilled, experienced and confident. I met many of these people on my trips to the hospital (such as Nurse Practitioner Paul) and I am very grateful to them and to the hospital for the professionalism they showed.

As well as carefully monitoring my medication, I underwent a successful cardio-version procedure in December. I can confirm that, after all this care, I am feeling a lot better and trying to get back to normal life. Since then I have been referred to the heart failure team and my care is on-going.

As if this was not enough time to spend in any hospital, on a Monday in January I was referred to the spinal surgery team by my GP, via the A&E department again. I had been suffering from sciatica for some weeks and my GP thought my increasing pain and the location of the pain was suspicious. After he talked to the spinal team, I was sent to the RD&E. I would like to thank the nursing team in the RD&E for their excellent care as well as the medical staff from the spinal surgery team (including Dr Claire). After an MRI, I was diagnosed with a slipped disc and arthritis in my spine. With some medication and lots of exercise, the pain has now abated and I am more or less back to normal. I know the outcome could have been a lot worse and I am eternally grateful to the whole team for looking after me.

I realise that I have missed the names of many people who I interacted with in the A&E Department, Acute Medicine Department and the Spinal Surgery team, although I guess my medical record will tell you more. In any case, I would like to thank everyone I interacted with for their caring, professional and efficient treatment of me.