"How the NHS looked after my Dad"

My Dad was unwell and when I arrived at his house on Friday evening I found him to be breathless and with a high temperature and very puffy ankles.  He also said he had been feeling lethargic, no appetite and finding it hard to keep warm over the last few days.  He had made a GP appointment for next week.

I thought he looked unwell and was worried so I called NHS111 for advice.

Lizell (call handler) and Iain (nurse assessor) were excellent.  So patient and worked together to ask me all the right questions and listened carefully.  Iain was so kind and thanked me for -being his eyes and ears-.  I thought that was such a nice turn of phrase.

I was so pleased to be offered a home visit that night.  Stuart, the nurse who came all the way from Melrose to Eyemouth was exceptional.  So thorough, kind and helpful.  Very good at explaining everything.  My Dad said it was the most thorough checkover he had had.  Great communication back to the hospital and the doctor.  

It was decided he should be seen in hospital and I drove him to the Borders General Hospital A&E.  Lisa (Trainee ANP) was so lovely.  Everything was done very smoothly - chest x ray, ECG, blood tests - and then a move to a bed in A&E while awaiting a bed on the medical assessment ward.

Everyone communicated so well - what was happening, decisions they'd made and why.  Nurses helped each other with tasks.

The A&E ward looked after him very well.  My sister and I were able to leave him once he was settled there.  I spoke to a lovely Doctor called Jonathon on the phone and he went through their assessment and plan so far.  Again, very patiently, like nothing was a rush, though I'm sure they are so busy.

Later on he was moved to ward 6 - and I noticed how the ward team helped the porter navigate the busy corridor by moving trolleys and equipment out of the way and telling her what they were doing so she could push my Dads bed all the way down the ward.  That was all without being asked - such a lovely sense of great teamwork.

He was very well looked after on the ward - someone got his team tray very quickly and fixed his TV.

He was discharged on Sunday afternoon and Aisha(staff nurse) explained everything to him and then again to us.

All in all - from start to finish, the way the different elements of the NHS system worked so well.  Thank you so much.