Old and new Downe saved Jackie’s life

Old and new Downe saved Jackie’s life

2 May 2012 - by David Telford

BALLYNAHINCH man Jackie Dalzell is rather unique.

His life has twice been saved by the staff at the Downe Hospital — once in the old Victorian building in Pound Lane and again at its £64m replacement on the outskirts of the town.

Mr. Dalzell, who celebrated his 65th birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, said the importance of the Downpatrick hospital can’t be highlighted enough and he hopes the services it provides to people across the district will be maintained and expanded in the months and years ahead.

Thirteen years ago he suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the old hospital four days after Christmas where his life was saved. In January this year he was back in the new Downe suffering from a severe chest infection, with staff once again saving his life.

Mr. Dalzell said he was “seriously ill” when he arrived at the old Downe’s emergency department in December 1999 and only discovered a short time later that the staff on duty at the time didn’t think he would recover.

He continued: “Dr. Whiteside, the redoubtable Sister McClean and the other staff saved my life and I will be forever in their debt. I was then sent for an angiogram to the City Hospital in Belfast and was informed I needed a quadruple by-pass.

“When I returned to the Downe I was informed I wouldn’t be leaving until the by-pass was completed as I was still very ill. The surgery took place the following January at the Royal Victoria Hospital.”

Mr. Dalzell returned home following major surgery and after six weeks convalescing was able to return to work where he remained in employment with an engineering supplies business in Crossgar.

The Ballynahinch man said he remained well until January this year when he fell ill once again.

“I was being treated for a severe chest infection, but my health deteriorated and I was referred to the emergency department at the new Downe,” he explained.

“When I arrived I received emergency treatment and was transferred to the cardiac ward under the care of Dr. Barr and her excellent staff. Within a few days I was diagnosed with severe heart failure and informed only a small percentage of my heart was working. I was then sent to the City for another angiogram and had two stents ed in one of my arteries which was 90 per cent closed.”

Mr. Dalzell returned to the Downe and was given a high dosage of medication to help his weak heart and was discharged from hospital in March and is still on medication and attending the Downe’s outpatient department.

The Ballynahinch man said he is currently waiting to see a specialist based at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast as his current heart

beat is over twice the speed it should be.

“The specialist is going to try and regulate my heart beat but I am here today and am in the rather unique position of having my life saved by both the old and new Downe Hospital. I am here today as a result of the dedicated professionalism and expert care of the medical and nursing staff we have in this area. I am living proof of their expertise.”

Mr. Dalzell said if the Downe had not been so close to him on the two critical occasions when he needed it, he would not be alive today to tell his story.

He added: “This hospital and the role it plays at the heart of this community should never be allowed to deteriorate in any way. It should be enhanced and I would encourage people to use this excellent facility.”