"From paramedics to the ER staff, everything was just fantastic"

My elderly mother was admitted to A&E  by ambulance, we had received a panicked phonecall from our father who advised us Mam couldn't not breathe and an ambulance was coming.

We got ready in a blind panic and got to the ER as Mam was arriving. My dad told us the paramedics were fantastic and had already given mam medication to help her breathing which had improved her. The paramedics had also cared for my Dad aswel, reassuring him and assisting him on and off the ambulance.

When she arrived we were greeted by the sister who apologised that we had to wait in the corridor as there were no beds available. We waited for roughly an hour. It was rather cold as we had to wait near the ambulance entrance. However during this time the sister made us hot drinks and apologised several times and gave mam extra blankets. We were able to observe how busy the staff were and how efficiently they do their jobs under very trying circumstances.

Once a room was available, Mam was moved straight in, the nursing sister apologised again for the wait and set about making my mam feel better.

She was very kind, friendly and down to earth which put the whole family and most importantly Mam at ease. The sister organised a barrage of tests including bloods and a chest X-ray. She apologised again that there would be a long wait for the doctor, however we did not mind as once Mam had had her chest X-ray, the sister and a health care assistant moved my mam onto a hospital bed and made her comfortable.

The health care assistant was also lovely and had a lovely positive manner. The sister also gave Mam some antibiotics, started a drip and gave Mam some oxygen to help with her breathing while we were waiting to see the doctor.

A few hours later we were seen and Mam was already feeling much better because of the treatment administered by the nursing sister. The doctor was also lovely, extremely kind and attentive.

Because mams tests had already been organised on arrival, the doctor had all of the results when he came in to see us and could give us a diagnosis straight away, this put our minds at ease and we felt that Mam would soon be on the road to recovery.

Mam was told she needed admission for intravenous antibiotics for an infection in her chest. The nursing sister again apologised that it would take some time to get Mam onto a ward due to a lack of beds in the hospital.

I think Mam was in A&E for about 8-9hours in total, however my mam and my family feel that despite this, the care she received was fantastic and the aforementioned staff were amazing and a credit to the hospital.

The ER department was extremely busy and staff were running around with multiple jobs to do, however mams nurse managed to ensure she had a hot drink, some food and was tucked up in a hospital bed.

We are all extremely greatful for the fantastic care we received and Mam is now well on her way to recovery! We wouldn't hesitate to bring her back to South Shields ER if we ever need to. From paramedics to the ER staff, everything was just fantastic.