Care Opinion

Hospital stay and transfer to residential care facility

Posted By Jancj39

"Hospital stay and transfer to residential care facility"

About: Antrim Area Hospital / Ward B1 Acute Medicine (AMU1) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service / Emergency ambulance response Rosedale Residential Home

(as a staff member posting for a patient/service user),

I collapsed at home took a cardiac arrest and spent seven weeks in Antrim Intensive Care Unit. The things I remember are hallucinations they were very real.  I remember one of the staff members being lovely and very kind.

In B1 there were a number of male nurses/assistants they were very professional and kind but it was hard to get used to.  I felt mortified but I had to accept it. One staff nurse, was very calm and kind, a real gentleman.  Even when he wasn't looking after me directly he came and spoke to me and made me feel he really cared for me.  All the staff were extremely good to me.

There is one thing at the back of my mind that I keep thinking about, I had an ECG taken at the house by the Paramedics but when in the hospital it couldn't be found.  I felt angry about this as there was important information on it, with this said the Paramedics were brilliant, I would love to meet them and say thank you. 

Whilst I was in hospital I witnessed three different patients pass away, one after a cardiac arrest, one who bled out and one slipped away.  This was very traumatic, there was not actual follow up with me to see if I was ok after witnessing these deaths, this needs to be considered.  In Antrim they have exit doors, why is there a bed in front of these doors, what if there is an emergency, that worried me.

Moving to Rosedale I was told on a Sunday by the Social Worker I was going to Rosedale with no choice, I was feeling low anyway and learning this made me feel worse.  I didn't know when I was going. On the Monday afternoon I was told I was moving, the short notice of one hour later, I was being moved to Rosedale.  I felt upset about this, I was transferred by bus.

Being here is lovely, I am in a quiet environment, able to see the light, the grass and the trees.  I did feel apprehensive and worried about coming to a new place but it is all good now.  

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Responses

Response from Colette O'Neill, Area Manager, Community Care, NHSCT 6 months ago
Colette O'Neill
Area Manager, Community Care,
NHSCT

Submitted on 11/09/2024 at 09:21
Published on Care Opinion at 09:25

I am so pleased that you have found the transfer to Rosedale a positive one and that it will assist you make a full recovery. Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback,

Colette O'Neill,

Area Manager Residential Care

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Response from Maggie Hamilton, Experience & Involvement Facilitator, Quality, Safety & Improvement, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service 5 months ago
Maggie Hamilton
Experience & Involvement Facilitator, Quality, Safety & Improvement,
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Experience and Involvement Facilitator is responsible for developing and delivering high quality, effective services and processes for NIAS Service Users, Carers, their Advocates, the Public and NIAS Staff across Northern Ireland (NI) to facilitate and enable them to fully contribute to and participate in experience and involvement in relation to the NIAS.

Submitted on 17/09/2024 at 14:50
Published on Care Opinion at 14:50

picture of Maggie Hamilton

Good afternoon Jancj39,

I would like to begin by thanking you for taking the time to share your experience of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. It was heartening to learn how brilliant the paramedics were with you and I can only apologise that the ECG reading could not be found when you were at the hospital. As an organisation we are committed to consistently show compassion, professionalism, and respect for the patients we care for.

I can share your gratitude and feedback with the clinicians who attended to you on the day and in order to locate them I would require the following information:

o Date and approximate time of the incident

o The address the ambulance was dispatched to

If you are happy to share this information, I can be contacted at:

Maggie.hamilton@nias.hscni.net

I wish you the best with your recuperation.

Kind regards,

Maggie

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Response from Mary Butler, Assistant Clinical Services Manager , Medicine and Emergency Medicine, NHSCT 4 months ago
Mary Butler
Assistant Clinical Services Manager , Medicine and Emergency Medicine,
NHSCT

Submitted on 21/10/2024 at 12:01
Published on Care Opinion at 12:02

I would firstly like to thank you for taking the time to share your experience which you had whilst in Antrim Area Hospital, particularly whilst in AMU1 (B1).

I am so glad to hear that your experience with the staff is that of a positive one, and you felt well cared for especially by the male staff nurse which you mentioned.

I can only apologise that you sadly witnessed the passing of other patients, and you received no follow up. I appreciate this is traumatic for patients within the ward, and this is learning I will take forward to the team.

In regards to beds in front of emergency exits, thank you for raising, management are in process of reviewing.

I am happy to hear you are settled in Rosedale. Take care.

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