"Long wait for stroke treatment"

I was living at home alone and felt dizzy and weak when going to the toilet at 06:40 last week. I returned to bed and recovered somewhat so went downstairs , made a cup of tea and went back upstairs. I became increasingly faint and disorientated. Having had an earlier stroke, I was concerned that it was repeating although no muscular symptoms at this stage. I suspected either stroke or heart problem.

I phoned 111, which was useless so phoned 999. I was told there was a wait of some 4 hrs for an ambulance. I phoned a neighbour who drove me to Grantham hospital A&E, which had just opened.

I received excellent and prompt attention, including ECG and CT scan. By this stage, my left eye became uncontrollable and I had numbness of my left cheek, and extreme disorientation; also shallow and rapid breathing which I could not control.

I was transferred by ambulance to Lincoln County Hospital, arriving at approx 10:00. A further ECG was taken by ambulance crew en-route. Despite remonstrations by ambulance staff seeking urgent care for stroke I had to go into Lincoln A&E for assessment, as this was apparently the quickest way to get admission to the Stroke Unit.

I was seen by a doctor after some 1.5 to 2 hrs, who confirmed likely stroke, causing balance, vision and nausea problems, caused by a clot which would not have shown on the CT. I was given a large aspirin and held awaiting a bed on the stroke unit. Finally taken to stroke unit at approx 22:45.

Once on the stroke unit, care and treatment was carried out to perfection, and my condition improved apace. OT and physio assessments fully and timely performed.  I had a  MRI scan, and was discharged with ongoing medication last Friday, with follow-up review in 6 - 8 weeks.

I can only praise both Grantham A&E and Lincoln Stroke Unit for their care and attention.  However, it could not be clearer to see that the time taken to get treatment was excessive and the lack of timely ambulance home service was unacceptable.   With such shortage of resources at Lincoln County, the expanding population in the Grantham area, and delays in transportation, the Stroke Unit at Grantham should be reinstated as a matter of urgency.