"You saved my life"

On Friday night the British NHS and the staff and facilities at St Peters Hospotal saved my life. One minute I thought I was going to die - the worst, most debilitating pain I have ever known exploding in my heart.

A few minutes later, after an emergency call from my wonderful wife, the first responder paramedics arrived, calmed me down, gave me reassurance and pain relief. Five minutes later the ambulance and 2 more paramedics came to take me in to hospital. My wife came with me to hold my hand. Yes it was a heart attack.

Whilst this was happening, a cardiology team of at least 6 highly trained staff was being called in. Whether they had been sleeping, eating a meal or watching a film, they dropped everything to assemble in the cardiology lab at St Peters Hospital. They were all there already to greet me off the ambulance with smiles, more reassurances and explanations as to what they were going to be doing.

An hour, one removed clot and three stents later I was in the ward having a cup of tea. The same consultant who came in to perform the operation on the Friday night was there on Saturday morning to talk me through what happened and what needs to happen next.

A few days observation and I can go home with an offer of ongoing complimentary physio, nutrition and lifestyle advice and counselling.

Thank you to all the staff who saved my life. From the people serving the tea and meals, to the cleaners who changed my bed each day, from the radiologers to the nurses, doctors and consultants. Who worked long hours over the Summer Bank Holiday weekend to keep me breathing.