"The excellent care I received after having a stroke"

I began the morning going to work as usual and returning home for my breakfast after 10am. I was upstairs and felt a numbness in my face and then afterwards my left arm began to get numb. I walked towards the bedroom to discover my left leg was too weak to walk on. I knew right away from the ads on the TV that this was a possible stroke. I called my wife and she immediately called for an ambulance.

After a discussion with the emergency services, they immediately dispatched an ambulance which arrived within 15 mins. Little did I know the care and attention I was about to receive was unbelievable. The ambulance arrived and both paramedics were brilliant they put me and my wife at ease. From the minute they arrived, time was of the essence and they were contacting A&E of my arrival and my symptoms and the time of when the stroke happened. The driver of the the ambulance blue lighted me to the hospital in record time, she was amazing.

On arrival at Altnagelvin Hospital, I couldn't believe that so many staff were on hand to support me. The consultant and doctors were on the ball asking questions and diagnosing as at the same time the nurses were frantically trying to get blood from me they were absolutely fantastic. I was taken for a CT scan immediately and treated with blood thinners to disperse the clot which may have been causing the stroke. I was told that because of the quick reaction I only had four hours in order for this drug to be administered, so I was very lucky.

I was then taken to Ward 40 ( Stroke ) ward for recovery. From the first instance, the nurses and doctors were there to support me. For the 24 hours on the ward I received the most brilliant support constantly and everyone of the staff who cared for me gave 200% right to the time of my discharge the next day.

I would like to thank all the staff in Ward 40 for the care, empathy and support they gave me on a very worrying day for me and my family. You all went over and above your pay grade and should be very proud of yourselves. Even through the madness of the day to day within the Ward and the obvious pressures you are under, you all put up a brave face and had the crack and put on a smile and showed empathy to others . Well done everyone.

I have stayed in 5 star hotels all around the world and never received the treatment I did on Ward 40, you have restored my belief in real people again. 

Thank you all so much you don't realise how much I appreciate what you all did for me.