Hey guys,
Yesterday I took the first step to changing hospitals. It’s been a long time since i had to look into a new hospital for my cardiac care as I’d been happy under barts and prof Deanfield since my teens but unfortunately he’s retired and my own bad health means getting across London is increasingly difficult and I’ve had to make the hard decision.
So on Thursday evening I was really stressed and upset, I had a few tears in the early hours of Friday. It was the anticipation and acceptance prof has left. So I eventually got some sleep, thankfully.
Friday morning after getting up I did my normal check emails etc and popped my mobile on charge. Before I knew it I was getting ready and it was time togo.
Armed with my trust Samsung as the sat nav! My cousin popped me in the car and we dropped my dad off and peter came out and checked the straps! Then we was off. It was a really rainy day!
I was stressed as anything because of the meeting & waiting to hear about fa cup final tickets, would I or wouldn’t I get a ticket!
The M5 although wet wasn’t too bad and when we got down to Bristol it wasn’t too bad and then we meet the hills, have you ever seen those hills I swear it was huge! I didn’t think we was getting up the one! We ended up a bit lost so had to ask the bin man! We eventually found a multi story and drove to the 8th level as that had disabled parking! We then had to find our way to the heart institute it was pouring with rain and we didn’t have a clue! For some reason my phone took us up another hill and all I could think of as my cousin was pushing my chair with heels on, rain was coming down was my mum will be laughing at this!
We eventually found a part of the hospital who directed us to the front desk. We had to go down a lift and follow some corridors, I was thinking at this point it feels like the old Birmingham children’s hospital!
When we reached the desk they told us where Togo, we went through a really modern, airport like part with a few shops! Then up in a lift to the 5th floor and before we knew it we entered the outpatients of the heart institute.
I told the receptionist I had arrived, it was really busy and obviously a none GUCH or ACHD as it’s now known day. A few minutes later Jessica came and introduced her self to me. We went to a little room talked about various things and checked if I was doing ok!
Then for a show around, it’s on two floors, the first being where you see the consultant and then we’re ECG and echos take place. The second floor I met another nurse specialist who printed off a newsletter for me about south west network for heart patients, this along with the details Jessica had given me.
I looked around the one ward and was told how they try to give the younger patients a side room and you get WiFi! Before long it was time to say goodbye to Jessica and thank her for her time.
We made it back to the car with less huge hills and paid £2.50 parking! Carolyn had a drink and then off to petrol station and then back on the road.
We got home with music playing in the car and even had a sing song!
As for me, I felt that Bristol gave me memories of Birmingham children’s (old) it was an old hospital and the institute it’s self was small and friendly and seemed like a family and that’s important to me. I liked both nurses that I met and laughed at the unit being Bristol city supporters!
I’ve not yet made my decision yet, I really need to think about it at 33 years old this I’m sure will be my last cardiac hospital move, so I need to be 100% happy and feel it’s the environment for me.
Vicky xx
