CAPE Bridgewater resident Alan Smith is not often stuck for words, but when it comes to the health workers who saved his life, it was hard for him to express his gratitude.
After collapsing at home on December 1 and being driven to Portland District Health (PDH) by his partner Cathy, Mr Smith needed urgent medical attention, including placing a wire in his heart to provide regular small shocks to stabilise its beat.
On two occasions his heart stopped and he had to be revived.
“I have heard and read about it, but it actually happened twice,” Mr Smith said.
“I can remember one of the nurses saying ‘stay with us Alan, stay with us’.”
There was difficulty placing the pacing wire so an x-ray was taken to help the urgent care centre staff and Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV) to ensure it was correctly placed in the heart.
The 73-year-old was stabilised and flown to Melbourne.
“What can you say, I would not be here if it was not for the assistance of the staff at PDH and ARV,” Mr Smith said.
“What do you say to a group of nurses who saved your life? I’m just grateful, humbled and very thankful.”
Mr Smith spent nearly four weeks in hospital where he had a double bypass and a pacemaker installed.
He is now home at Cape Bridgewater and gradually returning to good health.
“It is a night I’ll remember for the rest of my life and all the accolades deserve to go to the hospital, I’m just very thankful,” Mr Smith said.
PDH director of nursing Ros Alexander said this was another example of the quality care provided by PDH.
“The board of management and executive team are extremely proud of what the clinical team at PDH achieves all the time – this being only one example out of many,” Ms Alexander said.
