Care close to home helping save lives

Care close to home helping save lives

When Barwon Health staff member David Jeffery experienced chest pain on the morning of 31 March, he had no idea he was suffering a life-threatening heart attack. What followed was a rapid and coordinated emergency response that saved his life.

Concerns were first raised when David felt tightness in his chest, which then worsened into severe chest pain.David’s wife, Lara Jeffery, promptly stepped into action and immediately called Triple Zero (000).

Within minutes, paramedics arrived at the scene, followed shortly by a MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance).

Ambulance Victoria paramedics administered pain relief, completed an ECG and transmitted the results directly to Barwon Health cardiologists, all before arriving at the University Hospital Geelong emergency department.

By the time David reached University Hospital Geelong, the Cardiac Catheterisation Lab was already prepared and waiting, and by 8:30am David had a stent successfully inserted.

David was recovering in the Cardiac Care Unit by 9am, all within the ‘golden hour’, the critical window when fast treatment can prevent irreversible heart damage or death.

David praises the swift work of emergency services and having access to a local hospital with specialist expertise.

“This experience has shown me why having a fully equipped hospital, with highly trained staff nearby matters,” Mr Jeffery said.

Seconds count during a heart attack and the only reason I’m here to tell this story is because the right care was available at the right time and in the right place, here in Geelong.”

University Hospital Geelong (UHG) forms part of Barwon Health and is the only tertiary hospital in the region. With 24/7 specialist services including emergency cardiac intervention, UHG is a critical resource for the growing population of Geelong and for the broader Barwon South West region.

David is thankful to everybody who played an integral role in saving his life, including his wife Lara, who had previously worked as an intensive care nurse for 20 years and knew exactly how to jump into action.

“I want to thank the paramedics, doctors, nurses and my wife for what they did that day,” Mr Jeffery said.

I want people to understand just how vital it is that our community has local access to advanced, convenient and lifesaving healthcare.”

Both David and his wife Lara work in Barwon Health’s Work Health and Safety department.

David has now returned to work and is recovering well.

He continues to receive cardiac rehabilitation care at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre, reinforcing the importance of having access to high quality healthcare services close to home.