"Outstanding A & E Department"

Hi there, just wanted to drop a note to you for the A & E Department. They are absolutely wonderful and we as a family would like each and everyone who works there to know that.

About 4 weeks ago they saved my daughter’s life in Resus after an acute asthma attack, she’s 33 years old with a 7 year old daughter, the treatment that they gave her was second to none. They kept her in Resus for 5 hours until they were absolutely sure that she was stable before she was moved to the Ward. An x-ray in Resus showed a pneumonia which has now been treated, and she is much better and under the care of a chest physician.

Today (Saturday) it was my turn, having worked in the NHS for 23 years I would never attend A & E in appropriately, especially at the weekend. But today I was in so much pain, I didn’t know where else to go. It was nothing so awful as what my daughter had I have to say, thankfully, but the care and treatment was exceptional. Mine was a knee problem, I was seen by a lovely doctor, an Associate Specialist, assessed sent to x-ray, they then reviewed the x-rays with me and my husband, said I needed an Orthopaedic Referral, probably for a full knee replacement; which I’ll do via my GP. The doctor then set about getting me appropriate and effective pain relief, which I had in the department, they then reviewed me again to make sure that there was no adverse reaction from the medication. A very nice nurse then sorted me out with crutches and demonstrated how to use them.

I filled in a little card, but there wasn’t enough space to tell you the huge respect and gratitude with which my family hold the James Paget Hospital and the A & Department in-particular. Our sincere thanks to everyone who has treated us. I hope if any member of staff is on a ‘downer’ they read this and realise just how good at their jobs they are, and what a difference to ordinary peoples lives.