We all hear about Covid on a daily basis but what happens when its you ...

​I have a story to tell, does not seem right calling it a story when we lived it. Starting from the beginning.
My husband felt feverish and had a cough, his cough came off the back of tonsillitis 4 weeks previously. He phoned NHS24, they told him too self-isolate. Which meant our house was on lockdown for the 2 weeks. We chose to send our youngest daughter to live with our oldest daughter for 2 weeks, trying to minimise the risks. Our two boys live in their rooms 24/7 so us crossing paths was at a minimum. Our oldest son and his wife done our shopping and we got deliveries which was lifesaving. 
For 10 days my husband slept, could not stay awake long enough to eat, he would nibble at something every other day. He got angry with me as I was making him drink. I got him to call the Dr five days after being unwell, as the virus was still new to them, they said try to keep drinking plenty fluids and keep isolating and if anything changes call back.
On day ten he said that he had diarrhoea, that was it for me. I phoned NHS 111, I was on hold for 1 hour 25 minutes, I explained how my husband was, they wanted to speak to him, he was told to sip water every 15 minutes, again if anything changes to call back. I told my husband that he has 2 hours to improve then I was calling back. He had been to the toilet eight times within six hours, I called back, this time I was on hold for 1 hour 56 minutes. Again, spoke to a Dr, this time they decided to send him to the covid-19 clinic in our local area.
I took him to the clinic, I had to wait outside. My husband had to wear a face mask before entering. He was the very first patient through the covid-19 clinic doors. They said he was getting transferred to the hospital via ambulance. I was not allowed to go with him, I was told to go home. In that moment panic set in. Thoughts We're going round my head, what happens now, will they test him and send him home. How wrong was I.
An hour or so later the hospital called, it was the Dr, he said that he phoned me as they did not want to stress my husband's breathing. I was told that in the best interest of my husband they were going to put him in an induced coma. Instantly I broke down crying. I asked why, the Dr said that his blood pressure was dangerously low and he wasn't getting enough oxygen and that his lungs were a mirror image of each other with masses all over them. That became the start of my 2-hour phone calls to family.
Everyday myself and my father-in-law would phone the hospital for updates at least 3 times a day/evening. Telling the kids was extremely hard, I could not hold the tears in, I was terrified. Before my husband was put to sleep, he text me telling me he was scared, I couldn't let him know how scared I was. I said he would be ok and needed the rest to get back on his feet.
In the news it was nothing but death and horror stories. It was not easy staying positive with all that in the background. If it wasn't for the support from friends and family I don't know where I would've been. Every day was two hours of phone calls and text messages with updates to everyone. After four days in ICU, they made the decision to wake up my husband, it was a scary day not knowing how he would be. The hospital phoned me later that day to let me know that everything went well and that he was now off the ventilator as well. 
I called the next day after DR's rounds and asked how he was, the Dr said one second, next thing I know I was speaking to my husband, the tears streaming down my face, again! He sounded drunk and very croaky; he said his throat hurt with the tube. He was still very weak, but he was awake. The next day he was transferred to a high dependency ward. When he was leaving ICU all the Dr's and nurses stood in the corridor and were clapping, my husband was the first patient to wake up and leave ICU. My husband was overwhelmed, he asked what made him different and he thought of the other men in ICU who were still on ventilators.
I phoned the ward every day, updates passed on to everyone. They said he was getting transferred to another ward, the next step to leaving hospital. He was on that ward for a couple of days. I was so happy to be picking him up.
That day I noticed I had a sore throat, I called the Dr, she said to isolate and that I was probably stressed with everything that had happened. Day five, I was sweating, high temperature and was being sick, I had no energy whatsoever. Called NHS 111, they referred me to the covid-19 clinic. I was then admitted to hospital.
I had a mass on my left middle lower lung. I had the test done; it came back negative. I should say my husband tested positive for covid-19 after 10 days of being ill. The Drs didn't agree that I didn't have it, so they done the test again. At this point I was put on oxygen for 2 and a half days. Also, on antibiotics as a backup. I have never felt so weak, my temperature kept going through the roof, took me to move, I was terrified after what my husband went through. After four days I was able to leave hospital and go home, still no energy. My stats we're at 89/90 when they let me out. Think they just wanted me home.
All I wanted was sleep, my husband kept pushing at me to get up, in the end they said it was pneumonia, they couldn't call it covid as both tests were negative. My husband was in bits, he was worried about me again after what he went through, he didn't know what to expect. He was the one on the two-hour phone calls and text messages to everyone. When I was in hospital, the Drs and nurses would ask how my husband was, they only let him out the previous week. We were now both home and recovering. 
The DR's and nurses were amazing, I couldn't thank them enough. What can you say when they save your husband's life and then they helped me. Everyone I phoned they took the time to talk to me, explain things in detail when my brain clearly wasn't taking it in. The same when my husband phoned and asked how I was doing. No amount of thanks would ever be enough. Their days and nights are constant, giving up family time to save other families and still being there for each other. 
Our kids have been through so much, thinking how scared they were with both parents being in hospital. Not being able to be with family, having that comfort so far away. Having to cope on our own, being lost in your own head space. 
My husband suffered from anxiety, the fear of going out and not knowing if he can get it again. Fear of people and places. He is getting better day by day, but he couldn't of done it without the support of friends and family.
I couldn't of done it without friends and family. Every day was and can be a struggle. I still have down days, not all smiles are real. I'm mum, I'm meant to be ok and get on with it, I'm also mum who went through it twice, my husband and myself. Sadly, that can't be forgotten. I may not ask for support does not mean I don't need it.
Now my husband donates his plasma in the hope he can help others. He makes me proud to be his wife.
 
 ANON 
 

​DUTY OF CANDOUR REPORT
JULY 2020
 
Duty of Candour is a legal requirement to ensure that if something goes wrong in health or social care services the people affected are offered an explanation, an apology and an assurance that staff will learn from the error. The learning is shared with the people affected and throughout Scotland.
 
Following the announcement of Lockdown by the Scottish Government Crossroads implemented the Corona Virus contingency plan, services were put on hold for various reasons i.e. self-isolation and shielding. A skeleton rota was identified and staff shielding were requested to stay at home for a period of twelve weeks. The main office was closed to all staff and general public. Arrangements were made for all office staff to work from home in line with government guidelines.
 
A Contingency Plan Information and Guidance folder is in place and holds the following information:
 
1.    Contingency Plan
2.    New & Amended policies and procedures
3.    Support worker, Office (Individual) and Workplace Risk Assessments
4.    Health Protection Scotland Information & Guidance
5.    Fife Health & Social Care Partnership Guidance and Communication
6.    Scottish Government Guidance
7.    Care Inspectorate Guidance
8.    Crossroads Fife Guidance and Updates for all staff
 
This will continue to be updated as changes are implemented. The Duty of Candour report would normally have been released in March 2020 however due to Covid -19 this was delayed until July 2020.
 
The office staff returned to Buko Tower on 18 May 2020 in line with government guidelines, ensuring that all health and safety requirements were met. The coordinators will remain on a blended return to the office/working from home until Dec 2020, to minimise traffic in the office on a daily basis. The office remains closed to support workers and the general public.
 
This report describes how Crossroads Fife has implemented Duty of Candour throughout the period April 2019 – March 2020.
 
Crossroads Fife is a charity primarily funded by Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to provide respite support to Carers who support people of any age and any disability throughout Fife. Crossroads Fife is also on the Care at Home Framework and supports people in receipt of Self Directed Support to achieve their outcomes.
 
Crossroads Fife has a Duty of Candour Policy and staff guidance. All staff have undertaken training to help them understand the Organisation’s policy and the process of the Duty of Candour which could affect them.
 
Incident Reporting
 
All health and social care services in Scotland must provide an annual duty of candour report for the service. As a registered support service provider this information is sent to our regulator the Care Inspectorate.
 
During the reporting period no incidents triggered Duty of Candour.
 
Our Policy and Process
 
If an incident occurred that necessitated the implementation of Duty of Candour our staff would follow procedure and report this to their line manager and Service Manager who oversees the service Crossroads Fife provides.
 
The incident would be reported and the named staff member would complete the Care Inspectorate e-form.
 
The internal reporting form highlights the learning needed as a result of the incident and any specific staff team learning necessary.
 
Service Manager and line manger would meet with staff to provide support and emphasise this is about learning and improving, not blame.
 
Duty of Candour is part of our Induction and Core training which all staff have to undertake. Whilst it is distressing when things go wrong we can and do learn from our mistakes and adapt our processes to try and minimise the event recurring.
 
Where the incident arises from staff wrong doing then our disciplinary policy would be put in place. If you would like more information regarding this report please contact the Service Manager.
 
 

Giving back to the community - Terry Sweeney from Richardson and Starling came along today and presented us with a cheque for £1000, massive thanks from us all here at Crossroads Fife.

A massive thank you to the Co-op for the cheque received by the manager for a total of £5946.28.

One of our service users Stuart came along to help us with our first open day of the week. 

Tracy Young (Manager), Kirsten Docherty (Coordinator), Kerrie Cowie (Assistant Coordinator) , Madge Buchan (Senior Support Worker) and Daryl (Stuarts PA)

One of our staff members, Alex Hamill, enjoying his first aid course …..

The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) is an active citizenship programme that raises awareness amongst young people about philanthropy and their local community. Each participating school, each year is responsible for directing a £3000 YPI grant to a local charity through a unique programme of teamwork, research and competition. YPI is all about creativity and passion, leaving the four walls of the classroom behind, and supporting the issues young people care most about.

Kirsty, Emily & Hallie, pupils from St. Andrews High School won £3000 for Crossroads Fife from the Youth & Philanthropy Initiative Scotland … thank you girls what an amazing outcome!
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