Steve's story

This blog is written by Steve, a Just Treatment patient leader based in South Wales. 

I regularly used to speak to my Grandfather on Facetime since Covid 19 and getting him confident using a tablet. Over the course of Christmas, he had not felt too good complaining his chest was tight but he thought nothing of it. 

On December 27th of 2022, I called him on his tablet and checked in to see how he and my nan were doing. He asked me to go over, as he felt something was not right this time. I went over and said let's call 111, and after a long near two-hour wait we spoke to a GP. My Grandfather explained his symptoms and after talking to the GP we decided he would stay home and that I’d take him to the GP in the morning. He asked me to stay the night, to which I agreed, and he then went to the bathroom to prepare for bed. 

As he came out he sadly collapsed, and my nan cried out for me. I ran from the living room to find he had collapsed luckily onto the bed but his words were slurred and he was grey in the face.  I called 999 and explained what had happened, however they said they could not get him an ambulance and said I would need to make my own way there. 

We wrapped him up warm and put his farmer's cap on, and I helped him into my car. I drove as fast as I could to The Grange University Hospital, ensuring he stayed awake and talking to him. I remember asking him and talking to him about things on the farm he had when I was growing up, such as talking about the bull we had “Silver”. Amongst other things, I did my best to keep him awake and drive both safely and fast to the hospital.  

When we got to the hospital I pulled into the A&E car park and ran out around to him and opened the door. I remember telling him “we need to get you into the A& E department Gramps”, and he looked faint and said “I don't think I can, but I’ll try”.  I got him out of the car by putting his right arm around my right shoulder and began to carry him across to the hospital. As we got so far, I could feel something wasn't right and shouted for help. It was at that moment my Grandfather collapsed. I called out again as I continued to carry him to the best of my ability. A nurse rushed out with a wheelchair and I held him in my arms as I lowered him into the wheelchair.  

They rushed him in and I remember the doors closing to their emergency ward as they wouldn't let me in. I was taken to an enclosed waiting area as they wouldn't let me stay outside. While in that room shortly after a nurse came in and asked me questions about what had happened. I remember her then telling me that my Grandfather had gone into cardiac arrest. I can only describe that in that moment those few seconds she told me, felt like an eternity. The thoughts of calling my Nan that my grandfather was not here, were all I could think about. She left to get me an update and I remember calling my wife, upset and not knowing what to do next.  

Sometime later, another nurse came in to say they had resuscitated him and he was stable. I remember the relief of knowing I still had him, it was like winning the lottery. I had two family members arrive then and shortly after we were allowed to see my grandfather, and to describe the joy of seeing him awake again I simply cannot put into words.  

Following this I consider myself fortunate and so do other members of my family that we had my grandfather for a near further year before his passing on the 16th of December 2023. He spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital in 2023, following two further heart attacks, but I made sure I went to see him nearly every day. I used to pick up a paper on the way to visit him, and will never forget going around the corner into his ward and him yelling “here is my rock”.  

I spent a lot of time growing up around my grandfather, he was my hero and I have a lot of memories on his farm growing up, being picked up after school and working on the farm. I remember him speaking to the nurse who resuscitated him as I made contact with her and took her flowers as a thank you for what she did. He told her I was like a son to him and it's one of my happiest memories from 2023. 

I’m working with Just Treatment because no family should have to endure this, and the government needs to make changes to help our NHS. No one should be in a position where they cannot get the help they need or are holding a loved one in a car park. My work ethic is based on that of my grandfather’s who worked hard all his life, paid taxes into the NHS but they let him down when he most needed it.