Press Releases 2009 Press Releases 2009 Thank you for saving my life!
| Thank you for saving my life! |
 |
| Written by Communications Team |
| Monday, 15 June 2009 12:16 |
|
“Thank you for saving my life!” - that’s the message from Jacqui Hollick to the medical staff at St. Peter’s Hospital and “Thank you for all that you do” is her message to the rest of the staff she has seen going about their daily work during her treatment.
Jacqui, 45, who is partially sighted and registered blind, had been ill for a number of years and was house-bound. Things came to a head late last year and as a result she was admitted to Aspen Ward at St. Peter’s for 16 days.  Jacqui Hollick is pictured at St. Peter’s Hospital with Consultant Physician Dr Michael Wood who she credits for being “Fantastic and down to earth” and improving her quality of life. Said Jacqui: “If it weren’t for St. Peter’s I think I’d probably be dead. I was rushed in and they do what they do, and here I am with a new lease of life! I want to let the public know that I think they are fantastic!”
Aspen Ward specialises in respiratory medicine. It was there that Jacqui’s sleeping disorder condition of Sleep Apnoea, and other complications were diagnosed, enabling a new course of treatment to be prescribed. She was fitted with a face mask for use when attached to a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airways Pressure) at night. The machine filters the normal room air into the machine and then the air is pushed through the mask on her face at the appropriate pressure for the patient. Jacqui was taught how to use it by Lung Function technician Ros Javed.
 Jacqui Hollick and lung function technician Ros Javed in the lung function laboratory at the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust with a mask similar to those used at night by patients like Jacqui who suffer from Sleep Apnoea. Jacqui is full of praise for Ros’s patience and clear explanations on how to achieve maximum benefit from the use of a mask and attached oxygen supply. Getting a good night’s sleep in the past has been a rare treat for Jacqui and now that she is getting some good quality rest, and treatment for her other conditions, she feels much better and wants to give praise where she feels it is due.
She said: “The hospital does a really good job and they do more than people give them credit for. I’ve been in A&E and on the wards and as an outpatient and everyone is fantastic, so lovely and down to earth. The cleaners are always there doing their job. Hospital transport is fantastic, too.”
Footnote: Life has become easier for Jacqui in another respect, too. She has discovered that housebound people in need of a free NHS eye test can be visited by a mobile Optometrist who will carry out the tests, and then return a few weeks later to fit the new spectacles. Said Jacqui: "I rang the opticians and explained that I couldn't get out easily and they put me in touch with the company that make home visits." Nish Fofaria, Director of HomeHealth Opticians said that he and his wife, Jaimini, make house visits on the NHS on behalf of a number of PCTs including Surrey, Ealing, Harrow, Brent and Isleworth, Hillingdon and Hounslow. He said: "We have been working for a number of practices and noticing that we are getting a lot more calls from people who can't get out. We use the latest portable diagnostic equipment to bring the modern consulting room to the comfortable and familiar surroundings of your own home. Following a thorough and extensive eye examination, spectacles are ordered if required and we deliver within two weeks'' For more information email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call: 0800 783 7409. |
News
Ashford Hospital, London Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3AA
Switchboard: 01784 884488
Switchboard: 01932 872000
