THE FORMER chairman and community champion of Bromsgrove District Council has praised staff at the Alexandra Hospital and West Midlands Ambulance Service for the care and treatment she needed when she was admitted over concerns of a blood clot.
Janice Boswell MBE also wants people to know that, despite the pandemic, the NHS is there for people when they need it.
The 77-year-old had gone for blood tests last month and was told if she needed to come into hospital she would be contacted by 6pm.
She did not hear anything back and then at 10.45pm two doctors visited her at her Belbroughton home.
Because Janice had suffered a conjunctivitis haemorrhage a few weeks before one of the doctors said he was unable to help her.
He contacted the Alexandra Hospital and then at 12.45am an ambulance was sent to take her in.
Janice said: “The ambulance staff were lovely – they said they were only in Hartle Lane a few streets away when they took the call.”
During the next 24 hours Janice saw three consultants and had an ultrasound.
Janice added: “It was absolutely brilliant – it all ran like clockwork – they had everything ready and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable.
“It was an issue with my heart so they took me off some of the tablets I was on and arranged for alternative medication that would help.”
Janice, who is now recovering at home, said she could not speak highly enough of the NHS staff who helped her and has since appeared on BBC Hereford and Worcester to praise them and written a letter of thanks to the trust. She received a letter back saying how much the staff appreciated her comments.
“There has been a lot in the news about the health service being too Coronavirus-focused.
“I wanted to share my story to let people know about the treatment I received and that other services apart from Covid are running.
“Yes we all need to follow the regulations to stay safe and look after each other to bring the infection rate down and protect the NHS.
“But if you do have a health issue you are concerned about, please go and get it checked out as it may get worse if you don’t.”
