"Compassionate staff who worked as a tight, cohesive team"

An evening in July at approximately 7pm I was on a  motor cruiser at the mouth of Strangford Lough when I fell overboard and my life jacket became entangled in the propeller. Unable to free  myself I started to drown and went unconscious .  After approximately 4 minutes underwater  I was released by my husband  and received CPR from  friends . The emergency services were called stating CPR in progress due to drowning. I am advised that the inshore lifeboat from Portaferry was  launched and arrived quickly . The Helicopter Emergency Service vehicle ( HEMS )  had been dispatched as the helicopter doesn’t fly after 7pm .

When I arrived in Strangford I was transferred to an ambulance with Jenny the paramedic and Dr Barclay an ED consultant from SEHSCT who was on call for the HEMs service - I was assessed by expert clinicians, sedated , intubated and rapidly transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital ED. Once there  I was assessed scanned and received expert care . I remained in ward 6S in RICU in the Royal until a week later when I was fit to transfer to ward 7CC .

While in intensive care I initially had limited recollections  but my husband,  family and friends said that care was exceptional  with compassion and communication from every member of the MDT  medical , nursing , AHP and ancillary staff  . My personal observations  were of calm , individualised, compassionate  staff who worked as a tight , cohesive  team - staff including agency were introduced to one another at the start of a shift and any risks were highlighted - when a bank member of staff looking after me experienced issues logging on to the new Encompass system  this was escalated and resolved quickly . Every member of the ward team were friendly, compassionate and professional . Nothing was too much trouble - I felt that  they  involved me in my treatment plan and cared for  me for me as if I was a member of their family .  

I was transferred to Ward 7cc and was fortunate to have a single room with an en suite . Again the care from ward staff and the visiting consultants , physios and dieticians was superb. I don’t have the words to adequately express my gratitude for everyone who ensured I was able to return home with no lasting ill effects . 

Many people currently  complain about healthcare services  but I hope that my experience demonstrates the joined up , responsive ,  patient centred , exceptionally high quality care that is delivered by the RNLI , NIAS, HEMS and Belfast trust .