Hi, I am Angela Ball, the Oxygen Coordinator, here at the Brightwell.
I am responsible for ensuring that everyone who uses oxygen therapy is safe, welcome, comfortable and cared for. I look after all of our dedicated and hard-working oxygen volunteers, and the running of the department. I ensure that we follow the correct treatment protocols for every condition and every individual. I book risk and continuing assessments and deal with appointments and any queries.
One aspect of my role that I particularly enjoy is going out and giving talks so that people can find out more about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, it’s benefits and how The Brightwell can support potential service users and new members.
I am passionate about how oxygen therapy can help people, as I know first-hand how I personally benefit from it. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 1995 and the NHS care was non-existent. I was given a handful of leaflets and no offer of post diagnosis care. I left that appointment feeling devastated, alone and suicidal. I had to give up work due to worsening symptoms and with two young children to support on statutory benefits and I began to research how I could be proactive in my own care. I found the Centre, in those days, we were located in Nailsea, and started oxygen treatment in Jan 1996. Straight away, I found it alleviated the overwhelming fatigue, my eyesight began to improve, and I was able to lose my eye patch! Then after about a year the numbness in my hands and feet had almost gone. I also had counselling and then found that I had improved so much that I was able to volunteer at the Centre. I started doing supermarket collections and later coordinating the team of collectors.
As my confidence grew, I started a self-help group for members “chatterbox” and trained as a “Volunteer Chamber Operator” and also became a valued Trustee of the Centre, helping with the move from Nailsea to Bradley Stoke.
My work as the Oxygen Coordinator is very rewarding as I thoroughly enjoy working with all the HBOT Users, all the volunteers and the whole team at The Brightwell. I feel very lucky to call many of those that I work with and help, close and long-term friends.
I am the proud Mum of three grown up children, a daughter and two sons and have three grandchildren, who are an absolute joy! I moved to my brand-new house in Yate just over a year ago. 2024 promises to be a very exciting year, as I will be marrying my lovely partner of 14 years.
I really enjoy meeting visitors and new members, please come and say hello to us in the Oxygen Department next time that you’re at The Brightwell.
For more details about our Oxygen Therapy please click here
What a lovely and inspiring story.