South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECamb)

On 13 July 2024 I was taken ill whilst at the Rotherfield Village Fete, whilst having had a lovely time and everyone enjoying the day.
Sadly I went unresponsive and the Paramedics were called I obviously totally unaware of events happening to I. The paramedics rushed I to Pembury Hospital, crew had to bag I as my breathing went down to 5 and went into a full seizure,
Having arrived at Resus in A & E at Pembury Hospital, I went into another full seizure whereby I had to have powerful intravenous drugs to bring I out of said, my sister was advised that if no improvement within 30 minutes I would be going to Intensive Care Unit . I not aware of any of these events and wasn’t fully awake until late Sunday night ( being 36 hours after arriving at Pembury A & E.
If it wasn’t for Rotherfield St Martins friends & members of Mark Cross & Rotherfield Bonfire Society and South East Coast Ambulance Service, I wouldn’t have survived said and can’t thank all enough.

Pain score of 10/10, airway swelling causing problems speaking, high HR & RR, sepsis markers. Denied analgesia, Too frail to walk - dragged to ambulance, told couldn’t lay down, told there was nothing wrong was just anxiety. Ended up in resus on IV antibiotics, steroids, morphine and then transferred to William harvey for emergency surgery to save airway

Phoned for an ambulance on Friday 1.00pm told it would be with me asap but certainly within two hours. After five hours called again told it could be another five hour wait. A relative drove 4 and a half hours to finally take me to A and E with a severe bowel blockage needing iv fluids, iv morphine and anti sickness medication. I thought I was going to die.

The paramedics which attended were polite and respectful.

Very proud of them!

Seemed to prejudge me, patronising. Called out via 111. Coronavirus unable to breathe. SECAMB staff attending seemed fed up with COVID call outs. Dismissive. Later saw a Facebook post confirming above and denigrating individuals for so call wasting their time by calling an ambulance for suspected Coronavirus. Unfair. I couldn’t breathe, ambulance called by 111 paramedic not me. Staff should not denigrate public on social media. I’ve never called an ambulance for myself not once,

Had an asthma attack. Called ambulance. Came very quickly. Dealt with situation at home and then taken to hospital.

Twice this year I have had atrial fibrillation quite badly and the ambulance staff were wonderful.

My wife had a dislocated hip. The paramedic arrived very quickly, however, we had to wait for an ambulance from 2pm-7pm (5 hours)

I had a heart attack and had to be shocked 3 times. The Paramedics were amazing.

The staff were helpful and caring.

They arrived very quickly, and did everything they could to help.

Thank you so much