Patient stories: care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Our amazing people have responded to the demands of coronavirus (COVID-19) with extraordinary energy, effort, and dedication to our patients. We have transformed the way that we provide care in the last few months to ensure the safety of our patients and our people. Some of our patients who have recently been treated for coronavirus (COVID-19) at our hospital have shared their stories and words of thanks with us below.
March, I was still very tired, and I felt hot and sweaty. On the Monday morning (30 March) my wife, Pat, was worried about me – I’ve had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for 15 years - but I thought I was all right. She realised how ill I was and called an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived and took my temperature it was 40.4°C, and I was taken to hospital. I was taken to a ward, I had lots of tests and was given antibiotics and paracetamol. I had really good care from all of the lovely staff. While I was in hospital I didn’t think I was feeling too ill really, but when I found out I had coronavirus (COVID-19), I was worried I might die because of my COPD. I tried to take my mind off it, and I slept a lot of the time when I was on the ward. In the afternoon of Thursday, 2 April, my doctor said I was well enough to go home – I was feeling ok by then. I thought, as long it stays like this, I’m good as gold, I want to go home right now!
Those nurses and doctors are the reason that I’m alive – they saved me. I just think they’re angels, they cared so much.” Terry’s wife, Pat, 65, added: When Terry came home he was in bed sleeping for days and days. I think I had it too, but I just felt ill with a bit of a cough and a bad headache. The staff were really nice, and they kept us really well informed about Terry. They really put my mind at rest. Terry said he means every word of thanks for saving his life, and I am looking forward to our 50th wedding anniversary this November. Married grandmother Margaret Ferguson, 66, a retired healthcare assistant in a care home, from Harlow
Margaret said: At the beginning of April, I was feeling unwell and had terrible headaches and just kept sleeping. I wasn’t eating and I lost a stone and a half in weight and I’m feeling a lot better now, day my daughter said ‘right, that’s it’, Terry Philpot. on day. I’m eating and drinking ok, and took me to hospital – it was but I have lost a stone, from 12 Wednesday, 8 April. and a half stone to 11 and a half Married grandfather Terry stone. Philpot, 66, a retired London I didn’t realise how poorly I black cab driver, from was. I was taken to a ward and I Puckeridge, Hertfordshire The staff were one big team was there for so many days. I just working together, everyone did kept sleeping, so I was fine. Terry said: something different, but it all On Saturday, 28 March, I went mattered. I couldn’t have wished I was looked after very well. I to bed early because I was feeling for any more and I am still took it all in my stride – I thought standing here because of them. really tired. On the Sunday, 29 ‘I’m going to get better’. 5 InTouch June 2020_V4.indd 5
19/07/2020 22:18
