Marcin Rosiak was struggling with a lung infection and drove to the site in Flitwick having googled for a nearby hospital and chosen Steppingley, assuming it had an A&E department or urgent care unit. The hospital in Central Bedfordshire is home to community health and mental health teams.
With his condition deteriorating, caring teams at the site sprang into action to help Mr Rosiak.
Starting to panic on arrival, he asked for help at the wheelchair services building and was immediately supported by practice development administrator and first-aider Sally Hammer. She alerted senior nurse Ed Phillips, who was teaching nearby.
The wheelchair team contacted emergency services while Ed and matron Anna Palutikof assessed Mr Rosiak. The team helped regulate his breathing, with Anna improvising by creating a makeshift inhaler spacer by using two plastic cups.
Their calm and reassuring approach also helped ease Mr Rosiak’s anxiety before an ambulance arrived.
The team event went the extra mile to check on Mr Rosiak’s dog, which was waiting patiently in his HGV.
Mr Rosiak later took to NHS Choices to praise the ‘wonderful people’ at Steppingley for their help.
“Thank you so much you guys,” he said.
"I believe that whoever is looked after (by) Steppingly Hospital staff is safe in caring hands. God bless all of you."
Ed Phillips described the response as a great team effort.
"I was with the right people at the right time with the right skills," he added.
"There's a privilege in being able to help in such situations and it fills me with pride."
>>Read the comment posted on NHS Choices by Mr Rosiak