Patient praises his rapid care

Apr 21 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, South Wales Echo

Patient praises his rapid care

DAVE Carlos knew he needed help when he woke up with a throbbing pain in his leg.

The father-of-two initially called NHS Direct at 5am and was transferred to a nurse, who said he may have a deep vein thrombosis and would need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Dave, 55, from Roath Park, immediately contacted his GP out of hours service and was given an appointment at the out-of-hours centre to attend Cardiff Royal Infirmary.

The doctor gave him a thorough examination, called Accident and Emergency and asked for a bed on the admission ward.

When Dave arrived at A&E at the University Hospital of Wales, at 7.15am, the reception had received his notes electronically and he was sent straight to the ward where his service continued.

He said: “I was amazed by how quickly and smoothly my situation was being treated.

“Within five minutes I was having my history taken by a senior nurse and within 30 minutes I had seen the first doctor.

“My wife had lost me – I was admitted to the ward before she could park the car and get back to the hospital.”

A consultant was by Dave’s bedside by 8.15am and he underwent an ultrasound – with a full explanation of what was happening from staff – within the hour.

Dave, who is a marketing director for a TV production company, was not suffering from a potentially life-threatening DVT, but was diagnosed with varicose vein pain. He was discharged by the consultant at 10am.

He said: “It was very impressive indeed. Just five hours from first suffering the pains to being seen, diagnosed, treated and discharged. I was at my desk at 10.30am, relieved and delighted with the care that I had received.”