"TIA away from home"

Was on business in Plymouth when I suffered a TIA Mini-Stroke.

Saw initially by the out of hours GP at Derriford who referred me straight to A&E in the early hours of Monday morning.

Just from beginning to end, my experience of the NHS is something I cannot fault at all.

I’ve been fortunate to have private medical which means that most of my stuff previously has been through that but to experience the NHS at its very best, in an emergency, has left me in total awe of the amazing men and women who provide care.

It seemed I arrived on one of the busiest weeks of the year and there was a little bit of bed changing and hanging around but throughout I did have a bed and genuinely felt cared for from the domestic staff doing the tea and food though the brilliant nurses and HCA’s to the consultants who took time to explain what was happening.

Whilst yes, it’s a bit creaky and yes, it needs more equipment to reduce waiting time for MRIs (understanding that Derriford’s Major Trauma Centre status means that you’re going to pushed down the list, quite rightly, who people who need it more, I’ve left the hospital feeling that people genuinely cared about me and that making sure I’m set up for the future was THE most important thing they could do.

I know I was on ED, SAU and Moorgate wards and also a little bit on something more related to colons, but wish I’d taken the names of the consultants, nurses and support staff so that I could thank them individually.

I went to University in Plymouth and for the past twenty years it’s continued to be a really special place for me.

Whilst I wouldn’t wish a TIA on anyone, if you’re going to be ill anywhere, Derriford wasn’t the worst choice!

If you’re going to be forced to spend time with a new bunch of people then it might as well be five guys from Plymouth - they honestly lifted my mood enormously and, in a bit of a massive stereotype way, we spent one afternoon talking about the best pasty shops in Plymouth :)

I can’t thank everyone enough for the care I received.

It turned an absolutely horrible problem into a much happier experience.