"The amazing team in Three Springs"

Recently I received a cut to my foot and presented to two hospitals within a two hours drive from my home. During my treatment in one of these hospitals, I was denied a script for pain relief and my partner, while being given a script for antibiotics, was told that it was unnecessary and that I would not require them, (so naturally - did not fill it straight away). Many times during that initial treatment I had said to the Nurse Practitioner that I had felt that there was something in my foot still, but I was told that there wasn't. I had left here feeling embarrassed and started to doubt myself. 

When I returned home, I had found some medication that I had from a previous surgery, so I took that so that I was able to manage my pain. Two days later, I woke and felt very unwell. I looked at my foot and there was some redness around the top of it. The pain was also increasing despite the regular Endone/Panadol/Nurofen, so I headed into the North Midlands Health Service to see the nurses.

When I arrived, the Emergency Department was busy, the waiting room was busy and there were ambulance officers in the hallway, which I assumed meant somebody was quite unwell, so I took a seat in the waiting room. The nurses were very friendly in my opinion. They popped into the waiting room regularly to make sure everybody was ok. When I was seen, the nurses contacted the local GP who came over to have a look. I was offered pain relief but the most important part of this visit was that for the first time, I was made to feel that what I was experiencing was real. Nobody made me feel like I was overreacting.

By the end of my visit, I had been given IV antibiotics and pain relief and a script for oral antibiotics and pain relief. My foot was also redressed and the staff just made me feel at ease. I was asked to come back the next day for review, and also told that it was absolutely no bother if I was worried and wanted to come back at any point. I felt that I was listened to, and valued and they also gave me some crutches to help me move! I woke up multiple times that night and knew that things were getting worse because I was also feeling extremely sick, so presented at the ED again the following morning.

Again, I was greeted with a smile and friendly staff. They contacted the Dr and decided to admit me onto the ward for 24 hours to start some more IV antibiotics. I have stayed in private hospitals and public hospitals for various reasons and I can say that this was by far the most comfortable stay I have had in my opinion, despite feeling so unwell. The staff were extremely busy that first day but I still had people regularly checking in on me.

The food was delicious, unfortunately, my appetite wasn’t good but everybody was trying to be very accommodating. I ended up staying in the hospital for a few days because the infection wasn't quite going away. The room I was in was old but very clean and comfortable. I regularly had staff popping in to see if there was anything I needed. There was not a single person that myself or family came in contact that wasn't friendly and accommodating.

It meant a lot to myself and my family that I could receive treatment so close to home. It meant that they could come and visit me and it made such a difference to my very worried children.

Unfortunately, I am still not fully recovered but I am feeling very grateful that my local health service did such a great job in looking after me when I really needed it.