"Fabulous from GP surgery to hospital"

I had had severe pain in my left shoulder arm and chest, which woke me,  in the middle of the night, I thought it maybe a mild heart attack, I was pretty scared. That morning the receptionist at the GP (Longhouse Edinburgh) surgery made me a same day appointment, with their practice nurse,  who took my story and immediately she got got me a same day lunchtime appointment in the SDEC (Same Day Emergency Care) at the Western.

I had never heard of, or been in this department before- I feared I would be kept in overnight but - Wonderful thing!- in SDEC you can go home if hospitalisation is not needed, after they have triaged you.  Everyone wants to go home if possible, don't they?

I was treated courteously, kindly and efficiently by all staff there.  In the waiting room you could even make your own coffee/tea and get a sandwich.  

All tests were done there (Blood, X ray and ECG) and once a diagnosis had been made (late afternoon) the advanced practice nurse there gave me my results, diagnosis,  and the antibiotics,  to cure the infection which had been spotted in my left lung. (The relief! That it was not my heart). They also gave me a follow up x-ray appointment for 4 weeks later - which I have now had.  I'm hoping to get results soon. 

Fabulous, Fabulous NHS from GP surgery to hospital--this is a wonderful thing, and the advanced nurse practitioners were highly professional and a really good new thing,  too.