PA Stories - My PA saved my life

Content warning – blood loss

The accident occurred when the steel leg of a six-foot glass table fell and severely damaged my leg. I phoned 999 after struggling to pick up my phone from the floor. As a full-time wheelchair user with minimal dexterity, dropping and picking up things happens regularly.

In A & E my wound was dressed and, at three o’clock in the morning I was ready for discharge. I waited until early morning and phoned my PA to drive me home. By 10 o’clock, the kettle was on and while enjoying a coffee my leg began to feel more painful. The pain slowly built to a climax, the wound burst open, and blood arose at least twelve inches above my leg.

Thanks to Direct Payments, my quick-witted, experienced PA applied a tourniquet. A neighbour, with her PA, heard my screams, and rushed to our aid by dialling 999 as my PA was trying to stop the haematoma. I was fast losing consciousness by the time the ambulance personnel arrived. Whilst waiting, my PA phoned her husband in case, he could drive me to hospital. He arrived just before the ambulance. The ambulance staff got me into their vehicle and, with blue light flashing, started the journey to Kingston Hospital. They were out of area Staff and lost their way so fortunately my PA was able to redirect them. I remember nothing about reaching the Hospital. My PA was asked to phone my relative, a phone call no-one wises to make.

As I am still here to tell the outcome, I am indebted to my PA. It illustrates the necessity of Direct Payments and their flexibility for without them, I would not be alive. I can add the skill of doctors to the list of people I am thankful for, not just on this occasion, but the many times over almost the whole of a lifetime.