In the Westminster
Sir: I am sorry that Jennifer Hawley had such an unhappy time in Westminster Hospital (November 18). To balance the picture I would like to describe my own experience. Two weeks ago, while attending the General Synod of the Church of England, I was suddenly taken ill with a severe heart attack. I shall never cease to be grateful to the staff of Church House because they telephoned to the Westminster Hospital for an ambulance for me.
The ambulance arrived in ten
minutes and within another five I was in the casualty ward wired up to incredible machines and having an injection to relieve the intense pain. Shortly afterwards I was taken to the special cardiac unit. In a couple of hours time my heart apparently failed completely. The last I remember is hearing an alarm bell ring and a voice saying "My God, he's going." I was told afterwards that when this happened a doctor actually had her stethoscope on my heart. I was revived by a massive electric shock through the heart and when I cams round I was amazed to be in a bed surrounded by a mass of doctors and nurses all busily engaged in one thing or another. I was kept in the cardiac unit for seven days and then transferred to a general ward. Although I have a BUPA subscription I v/05 assured that it would be easier to look after me in a general ward and I would be just as comfortable. This has indeed proved to he the case. I am given a blanket bath every day and my bed linen seel5 to be changed more often than is° really necessary. As I came in ' off the street ' 1 was provided with clean pyjatt1n,5 every day until my own arrive°. While I was critically ill my wife was allowed to sleep in the Nurses' Home. I am looked after bY young nurses who work long hours with a cheerfulness and dedication which renews my faith in the young generation.
My advise to everyone is this. 0
you are going to have a heart attack, have it as near to the Westminster Hospital as possible and your chances of survival will be several hundred per cent greater.
J. H. Jacques J. H. Jacques Burdett Ward, Westminster Hos' pital
Previous page
