"Speedy, reassuring treatment for Allergic Reaction"

I was brought by ambulance to Blanchardstown A&E dept while suffering an anaphylaxis reaction from an unknown food allergen.

It was a Friday night but the dept didn't seem to be overly busy.

I was immediately assessed & treatment started by 1 Dr & 3 nurses.

As my entire body was affected by the reaction I was completely overwhelmed by anxiety & fear. But fear not! The Dr treating me was amazing. While treating me with the utmost professionalism she managed to stabilise me & manage my fears with her natural caring & compassionate manner, all while directing the other staff around her.

She delivered the bad news..I would have to stay. ! When she saw how disappointed I was she kindly said she would take it hour by hour & see if she could get me home as quick as possible. True to her word, every hour she checked on me & asked me how I was feeling. After some hours she said I could possibly leave after 1 more hour.

15 minutes later 2 nurses arrived to hook me up to some drips. The lovely Dr delivered more bad news, bloods had revealed some low levels of 'stuff' & I would have to stay.

My disappointment was obvious & again she calmly sat with me & explained what had happened & why it was important for me to stay & for her to ensure my safety.

I was eventually discharged the following day.

This story may sound like I was in a private hospital, in a land far away from the horror stories we hear daily about our Public Health Service in Ireland. It may sound like I was in a hospital where it's 1 Dr for every patient. It isn't.

I consider myself very lucky. Soon after my arrival to A&E the dept filled up. Every available space was taken up, beds, chairs & trolleys were being used to treat patients.

There were 2 Dr's responsible for managing the treatment of all these patients..my Dr and 1 other, and a team of nurses.

I can't begin to say how safe I felt. How professional, caring, respectful & patient the medical team were - it's a pity I couldn't say the same for some of the patients that had arrived for treatment that night, but that's another story.

3 days later I arrived at my GP's with the beginnings of another allergic reaction - again, amazing kindness & reassurance was given to me & off I went in another ambulance back to A&E - more fear & anxiety set in - but yet again this was allayed by the treatment I received in the dept.

I still fear having to be admitted or attend any of our hospitals in Ireland - our Health Service is appalling. Our governments 'management' of our Health Service is appalling. We are losing our talented young newly qualified med professionals to other countries, our GP's are in crisis, our citizens are dying due to bad decisions, choices & mismanagement made by our Health Ministers.

But amid all this we still have exceptional GP's, hospital Dr's & consultants, nurses etc. , that somehow are managing to hold together a shoddy shambolic system & provide patients with care ... But for how long?