"Community matron really helped my brother"

On the 1st November 2005, a community matron was assigned to my brother who had multiple medical conditions including HO Hypertension, Angina Pectoris, Diabeted mellitus. He had frequent admissions to hospital. I was staying with my brother to be of help when necessary. It was now obvious we had gained a friend, knowledgeable, interesting, reassuring and most importantly accessable. She was at the end of the telephone and responded on many occasions when my brother became unwell and took immediate action. When my brother was taken to hospital by ambulance she made contact and kept in touch by a visit on the day of admission and later on the ward. This was a real moral booster for us both.

Appointments with specialists were accompanied by informative letters outlining my brothers previous history and on one occasion, when free, we were grateful for her support at the consultation. Regular visits meant chest infections could be detected early and antibiotics prescribed, obtained and admitted speedily.

She was helpfu and involved on the discussion prior to the PEG being fitted and attended the case conference before my brothers return home and a new regime. At all times we knew there was complete liason with my brothers long standing GP and when advisable he or a colleague visited.