NHS brilliance saved our baby
Both of my children were saved by the NHS at birth in Shropshire.
One was saved by the quick actions of Shrewsbury MLU and the other by Bridgnorth’s MLU’s correct diagnosis of a potentially fatal problem.
However, last week we went through every parent’s worst nightmare: meningitis, and the amazing, brilliant actions of the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust ensured it was quickly diagnosed, treated and now I have an eight-week-old baby boy recovering slowly from this scary horrible infection.
Far too often people are quick to criticise and spread negativity about our county’s NHS services, but last week I saw the amazing response that occurs daily and I wanted to share and praise this.
We telephoned Shropdoc at 10pm with concerns about our little boy and the response was immediate, with the offer of an ambulance (not taken, we drove) and being transferred onto the children’s assessment unit at Telford within half an hour of the call.
Tests were run within hours (including a lumbar puncture) and medication and drugs were issued within five hours of the original call.
The care and treatment at both the assessment ward and children’s ward was world class. Every member of staff was so caring, courteous and kind even though they were clearly rushed off their feet.
The test results came back within 60 hours of the original telephone call and we now have a happy baby boy back home slowly getting his energy and personality back after this scary infection.
Thank you so much to everyone – who helped him: The hard-working Shropdoc telephone staff and doctors. The nurses, healthcare assistants and student nurses who gave him wonderful care and continually observed him. The cleaners who kept our room spotless during our stay. The catering staff who kept my wife’s belly full while she breastfed our little man. The thoughtful doctors who assessed and treated him and helped him recover.
Our NHS here in Shropshire is amazing, and worth fighting for. Please don’t take it for granted ever, because when you need them, they will be there for you, and we should be very, very proud of them.
Thank you NHS!
Rob Davies, Cressage
