"Life Savers!"

I was admitted to the A&E at NMGH after collapsing in another department in the hospital. I collapsed face first and broke a tooth as I lost consciousness. The assistance nurse practitioner looked after my care and was helpful but not very informed. She organised for tests (ECG, Bloods, Chest X-ray) after taking down my history. After consulting with the consultant, it was decided I fainted and can be discharged. My lower lip was swollen and had to ask if my tooth had snapped and was lodged in my lip, I had to request my own x-ray, my tooth was in my lip so which then the A&E consultant had to get MaxFax doctors to come and remove it and stitch my lip. I was then discharged. On returning to my car, I collapsed again so was brought back to NMGH A&E, the A&E consultant was worried that it happened twice in one day and wanted me admitted, I was taken to the EAU for further monitoring. I was there less than 15 minutes when the consultant reviewed my by listening to my chest, said I had fainted again and discharged me. The next day, I collapsed again and was blue lighted in an ambulance to MRI, I had a massive clot in my lungs that was near-fatal. The care at MRI was exceptional. From entering the triage area at MRI to the discharge from the ward, I cannot fault the care I received. The A&E consultants were professional and reassuring; they made timely referrals to other consultants once my investigations showed I needed to be admitted into hospital. The ward staffs from the HCAs to the Nurses in charge, the porters and domestic staff were lovely, everyone talked to me and took time to reassure me. I was involved in decision making with my care and given the time I was expected to remain in hospital. I was under two teams (medicine and cardiology), the consultants and teams from each area were constantly liaising with each other regarding my care and ongoing care post-discharge. Everyone was organised and kind. MRI showed me an exemplary level of care, and saved my life. My admission to MRI was April-May 2012. Thank you.