Your stories

We like to hear from you. Here are some stories our patients have shared with us, as told by them and the people who care for them. Do you have a story you would like to tell us? We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with the Trust's communications team by emailing rduh.comms@nhs.net.

Using the MY CARE Patient Portal

Ensuring accessibility of our facilities

Discharge Lounges

Virtual ward

Research experience with the Royal Devon

Joined-up working to support patients with a learning disability

First orthopaedic patients of the Nightingale

Drive-through at NDDH

The Trust has been exploring the use of drive-through to deliver some patient care, and patients who have taken part have given it their stamp of approval. In this video, patients who have experienced some of our drive-through services share their thoughts about it.

Rob and Jayne

Jayne Gater was the youngest person to be diagnosed with a dementia at the Trust. Following years of cognitive decline without a diagnosis, Jayne was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies during an admission to North Devon District Hospital in January 2020. She was experiencing hallucinations at age 57, and was diagnosed at age 59. From the point of diagnosis to the end of her life, Jayne and her partner and carer Rob were supported by our Admiral Nursing team. In this patient story, Rob shares his experience of caring for Jayne and being supported by the service.

Alan

Alan has multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. During the COVID-19 pandemic he needed to continue with treatment and have appointments with his consultants. During the pandemic, we put in place significant changes to the way we ran our NHS services to keep our patients and staff safe. Alan experienced some of these changes first-hand. Here is what he had to say about the care he has received and the changes we put in place.

Samantha

Potassium is part of a renal profile, the most commonly ordered test in pathology. High potassium is potentially a life-threatening medical emergency. Samantha shares her story about how some of her blood samples misleadingly showed high potassium levels, which meant she had to attend hospital unnecessarily. She talks about the impact this had on her life. Dr Tom Lewis, consultant microbiologist at NDHT, shares his work with GP practices to improve how blood samples are collected and processed to avoid this from happening - all it takes is a simple centrifuge.

Alma

Alma came to the Emergency Department at North Devon District Hospital after falling at home. Tracey, urgent care nurse in the Pathfinder team, saw Alma whilst she was in hospital and her daughter Ruth, and worked with them to plan Alma’s discharge. Tracey listened to what Alma and Ruth both wanted and worked with them and a local residential home to arrange the best short-term solution before Alma was ready to return home. Alma felt ready to return home and regained her independence within days thanks to Tracey’s hard work.

Simon 'Storm' Norman

Simon 'Storm' Norman was admitted to North Devon District Hospital after a gall bladder stone blocked his pancreas. He needed to be put into an induced coma for nearly one month. Storm and his wife Carol talk about their experience, including what it felt like to be in a coma, and how the nursing team helped the couple and their 7-year-old son during this difficult time.

Joyce and Ann

Joyce is receiving care at home. Joyce and her daughter Ann talk about what it's like to receive care at home and the impact it has had on her independence.

Mavis and George

One of our patients, Mavis, and Lynn Gill, Parkinson's nurse specialist, talk about how a cat called George has made all the difference.