"Excellent and reassuring care"

My wife Paddy, who is in her 80s, had an accident on 12 December, when she tripped outside our the front door of our village cottage, cut her head on flagstones and damaged her left knee. I wish everyone who genaralizes in denigrating our national health service could have witnessed what happened after this. Within seconds of dialling 999, the operator was updating me on the whereabouts of the ambulance, finding out details of Paddy's condition and suggesting what I should do. The paramedic immediately established a rapport with Paddy and talked to her calmly on the journey into Yeovil DH's A&E Department, where her medical records and future care requests awaited her thanks to our GP and the Hamdon Health Centre. Her head and knee were X-rayed, and her head was scanned for internal damage. All was, fortunately, well. Her heavily bleeding wound was stitched and a pressure bandage was applied to stop the bleeding. She was kept in A&E overnight and monitored hourly. On Friday afternoon, Paddy was moved to South Petherton Community Hospital to provide peaceful low-tech care. Paddy was discharged after a visit to YDH for a final examination, with another appointment arranged in early January to monitor progress. The leader of the Hamstone Independent Living Team delivered a Zimmer frame and instructed us both on lifting and safety issues. They returned later with a second Zimmer for upstairs. District Nurses were booked for morning and evening visits over the Christmas period. I have now booked morning visits to allow to allow time to agree a longer-term care plan that will allow us to stay in our home. Social services also offered additional equipment, which was taken up today when additional equipment was required.. Fittingly Hamdon Medical Centre removed the stitches in time for Christmas and carried out required blood tests. I would only add that this took place over the Christmas period in the midst of gales and floods. I have long believed in the Army tenet that "There are no bad soldiers, only badly led soldiers". The soldiers were magnificent, one and all, and their devolved governance and their executives have given the local leadership to maintain pride and morale in what they feel is a hostile climate. My wife and I most sincerely wish to thank you all for providing such a fine and reassuring service that was unfolded, much previously unknown to us.