Care Opinion

A terrible tragedy allowed us to meet NHS heroes

Posted By LouieSpotSpook

"A terrible tragedy allowed us to meet NHS heroes"

About: Raigmore Hospital / Accident & Emergency Raigmore Hospital / Intensive Care Scottish Air Ambulance Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance

(as a relative),

My fit, healthy, non smoker, very moderate drinker, 55 year old brother in law suffered a cardiac arrest whilst on a distance charity cycle. This happened in remote situation but he was immediately given CPR by qualified paramedics in minutes. NHS ambulance on scene quickly and then helicopter to Raigmore Hospital. Defibrillator used twice on this journey.

Attended by qualified professionals throughout this trauma but sadly his brain did not receive enough oxygen and despite exhaustive tests and care we have had to initiate end of life protocol. 

We, his family, arrived at Raigmore at the same time as he did and all closest members were there by late afternoon. Undiagnosed heart disease found to be the cause despite his extreme fitness. We were all in shock on hearing the news.

From the minute we arrived at Raigmore we were treated with kindness and compassion, with the A&E consultant quickly on hand to give us her assessment on our lad. 

Dr Nicola (?) was very clear on her full knowledge of timelines of the event and with suitable gravitas kindly explained how ill he was, what would happen next and which parts of the hospital we should go to. Measured, calm and so professional in her delivery, we thanked her and headed towards ICU. 

Dr Ben then took over with his team. Again calm and measured, he steered us through the next 6 days, assisted by the nursing professionals in the department.

Dr Ben tried to give our man every opportunity a seemingly fit and healthy patient would deserve. Throughout, his communications were timely, constructive, clear and respectful of all our queries, relevant or not. He never over or under-egged the situation and no false hopes were raised. However we always felt our brother was getting the best attention above all else. We felt he really cared and indeed, felt that he did. 

The nursing staff to a person were simply outstanding. Watching their mastery of a bewildering array of dials and screens, pure masters of their craft, it is hard to appreciate the competence and experience that these people demonstrated calmly in front of us, never showing any form of panic or hurry. Their gentle and tender care shown towards my brother in law was very moving, always referring to him by name.

We stayed at hospital in the relatives room, and nothing was too much trouble as the staff took us in their care as they had done with our brother, paying careful attention to his wife and children. Their dedication was simply outstanding and as shifts changed we met new people who to a person quickly took us in their embrace too. 

It was a humbling experience, to have them care for us whilst not having met us but one shift ago. To see them cry as we cried, as difficult news was delivered, and finally to have them help us as we prepared to sit by the bedside of our man, having prepared the room to best effect given the sombre circumstances.

And then, when the inevitable decision came to let him go, three nurses went to huge lengths to ensure his wife and sister had mementos, fingerprints and other photos to share with their 11 and 14 year old daughters. Nothing was too much trouble. 

Ask me how many lawyers, train drivers, or management consultants it would need to measure up to any of the aforementioned doctors and nurses and it would be to the power of ten at the very least. Why do they do it? Why do they care so much?

It’s not the pay, but clearly a calling to a higher standard. Forever in their debt and whilst the NHS has many trials ahead, the level of care we all experienced was of the highest order.

Our thanks to (and in order of when we met them)

Dr Nicola, A&E

Dr Ben, ICU

Kiersten

Claire

Morven

Norma 

Kellie

Kirsty

Rachel 

Lucy

Lovely lady who cleaned the family room and shower throughout with such good humour and kindness and who offered us tea and coffee in dark times. My apologies to anyone I have missed but they are all NHS heroes and always will be.

A terrible tragedy we shall likely never forget, but one which allowed us to meet the most wonderful folk. Thank you so very much.

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Responses

Response from Alan Martin, Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement, Scottish Ambulance Service 2 months ago
Alan Martin
Patient Experience Manager, Corporate Affairs and Engagement,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 01/10/2024 at 11:34
Published on Care Opinion at 11:34

picture of Alan Martin

Dear LouieSpotSpook,

Many thanks for taking the time to share what I can only describe as one of the most powerful stories I have ever read in my 7 years of responding here on Care Opinion. Firstly, please accept m sincerest condolences for the tragic loss of your brother-in-law. I genuinely cannot begin to imagine how difficult a time this must have been for you, his wider family, and of course will still continue to be. Please know that my thoughts are with you all.

The events you describe are ones which we all pray never happen to us, and whilst participating in a charity event as well. But what you describe, the positives within your story, its not about the clinical side of the profession that we are involved in, its the behavioural side. As you say many of those in the NHS are in it because they care and they want to help others, and in the case of your brother in law this really appears to have shone through - and this is why its so important to focus on caring just as much it is to focus on fixing.

If you would like, I can look to share your story with the Ambulance staff that attended your brother-in-law. In order to do this I would need to know his name, and the date and rough area that we attended. My team can then locate the incident number and share your story with the staff on the ground. The email for the team is sas.feedback@nhs.scot and if you do decide to do this would you be so kind to make reference to your CareOpinion username so that they can easily locate your story as it wont be me personally that picks it up.

Once again, thank you for feedback and I am so sorry for your loss.

Kind Regards

Alan

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Response from NHS Highland last week
NHS Highland

Submitted on 09/12/2024 at 11:41
Published on Care Opinion at 16:01

Dear LouieSpotSpook

I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to post your experience of the care you, your brother in law and the wider family received in such tragic circumstances. On behalf of all staff at NHS Highland we are sending our heartfelt condolences to you all during this difficult time.

Your feedback has been shared with myself and Dr Ben who will share with the wider teams. It is humbling that your family have found the time and made the effort to put this post together during such a sad and difficult time for you. We are not heroes, we are doing our jobs, but it means a very great deal to know that our efforts are appreciated by people when they are going through such an awful time. It is our privilege to care for people in these circumstances. Sadly, due to the challenges of which everyone is well aware, it is sometimes difficult for us to provide the level of care and compassion that we would want to, so it really does mean a lot to hear such kind words. Thankyou.

Nicola

Dr Nicola MacInnes
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Raigmore Hospital

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