"Excellent Service and Care"

I was on holiday. I tripped on stairs and fell over low wall on stair to stairwell below. A nurse from Eire was present and waved down Police due to my injuries. I had been knocked unconscious and was in severe pain in my back. Police then contacted the ambulance service who came 1 hour later. When they arrived they refused to take me to hospital as I was not a serious injury, ie not a car crash. I had to get assistance to walk back to a main road about 300 meters away, I then got an taxi to my hotel, picked up my passport and E111 and taxi then to the local minor injuries Hospital. I was kept overnight in the Hospital and they deemed I had injuries worth checking and transferred me to a bigger hospital early next day. I was x-rayed at 09: 00 and informed I had a stable fracture in one of my vertebrae, it was suggested I stay in Hospital for one day for pain management. My head was to be checked next but this did not happen. That night I was transferred from Casualty to a ward. I do not know why but was kept in Hospital for three days, administered painkillers through a drip for my back and head then discharged. Informed I was fit to fly two days later for my return home. I was administered blood thinner and pain medication. I managed to fly home but due to severe pain I bought a further two seats so I could lay flat on plane.

The next day I was suffering severe headaches, I contacted NHS 24 early in morning, explained my situation and severe headache, eventually a Dr called me back and suggested I report to my GP next day. I insisted I need some help and suggested I call 999 but the Dr said no point as I would be sent home and asked to register with my GP to initiate checks for my back and head.

Later that day my headache became unbearable even with painkillers I again called NHS 24, this time the nurse suggested an Ambulance but was not sure it was an emergency and advised me that an Ambulance would arrive within 3 hours, 3 hours later Ambulance arrived. I was taken to Victoria hospital. The nurse checked my blood pressure, dilation in my eyes and temperature. Asked questions about my injury. I guess I was in the casualty for about 45 minutes until a Dr came, Dr Steven Waugh. I explained my situation, history and present pain in my head. Dr Waugh was very considerate, went away and came back with options. He suggested that I may have to refer to my GP for progression but was also concerned about my head injury and decided he would try and arrange a CT scan. Not sure what he had to do, possibly get authority and argue my case and I know he had to call out someone to do CT scan for my head. This was done and later that evening my scan was complete. Dr Waugh came back and let me know I was unable to go home as I had a fractured skull, bruising and bleeding on the brain. I was kept in that evening. The blood thinner I was injecting myself with was a real danger to this injury, this medication was stopped immediately. I was monitored for my head injury during the night and felt comfortable with this care.

Next morning I was in the care of Dr Ron ......... (Australian accent). A further CT scan was arranged for my back injury and after consultation between Victoria and Southern General in Glasgow it was decided the following day that my fracture was not stable and needed to be managed in Glasgow.

The care I received back in Scotland was second to none, not too satisfied with my first call to NHS 24 and the doctor there but thereafter I must praise all the care that I had.

A huge thank you to Dr Steven Waugh as he appeared to be going against protocol to push for my CT scan for my head injury as it was weekend and out of hours. He listened to me and made a decision based on patient care which ultimately saved me from severe danger. My brain was bruised and bleeding and the medication I was taking was not helping my cause. I had flown home with these injuries which obviously should not have happened if they had done a proper assessment of my injuries. I took their advice and flew home.

Dr Ron .......... (Australian accent) was also tremendous, he looked after me and explained clearly my injuries, what was happening and how my patient care may turn out depending on further assessment form the specialists.

It was decided to transfer me to Southern General Glasgow due to my condition.