Gilly’s travel plans back on track after airport accident and rehab
When keen traveller Gilly Parsons, 77, took a tumble down the stairs on her way to check-in at Gatwick airport, she feared she may have had her last holiday.
Gilly, from Lenham, was on her way to France with her sister to board a Mediterranean cruise, when she lost her balance, landed on her face and couldn’t get up.
“I can’t remember all the gory details but I do remember everything hurt, from my teeth to my toes,” Gilly said.
Gilly at Hawkhurst Community Hospital with Matron Nicola Clements
Along with her sister Sally, a retired nurse, Gilly was taken by ambulance to East Surrey Hospital, where she was treated for multiple injuries including a broken nose, elbow and leg, as well as pushed-back teeth.
“I’d never been treated, let alone stayed, in hospital, apart from for the birth of my daughter, so being admitted was very daunting,” added Gilly. “With an arm and leg out of action and my face in such a state, I feared I would be there for the long haul.”
Gilly was treated in the specialist trauma unit and stayed at the Redhill hospital, which was more than 40 miles from her home, for almost a month.
Desperate to get home, or at least closer to home, Gilly was thrilled when she was deemed well enough to continue her recovery at a local rehabilitation hospital. Our Rapid Transfer Service arranged for Gilly to be moved to Hawkhurst Community Hospital, where she was supported to regain her strength and independence before being discharged.
Gilly said: “It was such a relief to be cared for in a way that mattered to me the most.
“I live a very active and independent life, filled with friends, family and trips away, so to finally be able to focus on the things that would help me get back to it was such a good feeling.
“The team at Hawkhurst took the time to get to know me and what my ‘normal’ was. They listened and tailored my care to help me get home and stay home.”
After almost three weeks of intensive physiotherapy and practising walking and doing everyday things, like making a cup of tea, and getting in and out of bed, Gilly was ready to go home.
Our Community Rehabilitation Team worked with Gilly to make sure she had an after-care package, like a hospital bed for downstairs, a walking frame and other mobility aids. They talked about what support Gilly would need from carers, family and friends, and made sure she was weight-bearing and steady on her feet before leaving the hospital.
“As soon as I arrived at Hawkhurst, my anxiety eased-up and I was determined to get home as soon as possible. The kindness and intuition of the nurses, and fabulous home-cooked fish pie and rice pudding did help pass the time somewhat!” said Gilly.
“Now I’m home, I can see why the team needed to wait until I was completely ready. Living alone in a house with stairs can be tricky and it’s so important to have the right support in place.
“Healing after an accident is a long and boring process, but it’s one that I am determined to do right, so I can get back to living a happy and healthy independent life.”
Supported by her sister, daughter Alison and granddaughters Daisy and Bluebell, Gilly is getting stronger every day. After a family Christmas, she is looking forward to planning her next adventure – a visit to Cornwall in the spring.
KCHFT manages eight community hospitals, which provide a wide range of services including in-patient rehabilitation and outpatient consultations in major specialities.
