"Outstanding and fast response to stroke"

Fortunately the (review restrictions means fast must be written in lower case) campaign resulted in my wife knowing that she needed to contact emergency services. I had noticed nothing was wrong when mowing the lawn on a hot day. On a tea break my wife saw that I was drooling from the side of my mouth and my left lip had dropped.

An Ambulance arrived in about ten minutes . The paramedics were carried out thorough checks. They were kind and supporting and assured me that it was essential they take me to A&E and I would not have a long wait for attention.

On arrival at Worthing Hospital I was wheeled immediately into the A&E stroke unit an I felt reasonably OK. I thought my speech was almost normal but joked with one of the team when I got stuck on finishing a difficult sentence.

Was so grateful to be able to use my mobile phone and let my daughter and wife know about my progress.

Once all the initial consultations, ECG and other monitors plus blood tests had been completed I was advised about the future plans.

These would be a brain scan and checks of the main arteries in the neck.

All this took place within a relatively short period of time and I was discharged in the early afternoon.

Fortunately brain scan, ECGs and neck arteries were fine.

The diagnosis was a TIA (or mini-stroke) and that I should not drive for a period of one month.

Fortunate to have completed this review without typos! I am a fast touch typist and yesterday one hand was faster than the other!

Special thanks to all the NHS team from call centre, stroke team and those providing the cleaning and other domestic services.

Sincere hope that those providing care in the NHS are able to do so

with assurances that inflation and other factors do not mean their own families do not suffer because of their dedication to others.