"Stroke unit / A&E"

I suffered a stroke a couple of months ago whilst out cycling. Luckily for me this was within the Royal’s catchment area. The speed and efficiency of my treatment was astonishing. The ambulance crew were quick on the scene and obviously alerted the Royal as there was a team waiting for my arrival in A&E.

Efficiency combined with friendliness, reassurance and explanation. Medical and management structures are obviously outstanding. I was immediately brain scanned on arrival to determine treatment and so from stroke to clot busting was a mere 90 minutes.

I saw first hand the dedication of the staff, such as the nurse in the stroke unit who had just worked a 12 hour shift staying on because of a difficulty arising taking blood from a fellow patient. This seemed to be the norm.

Outside of the acute setting, the time spent explaining protocols e.g by the anticoagulation team, was so impressive and much appreciated by me and my family.

Time is brain. I returned to work a couple of weeks later, am circuit training and gym most days, out cycling today in anticipation of Liverpool - Chester cycle run. But of course the wonderful systems of the Royal would count for nothing if I’d delayed getting help and waited to see if the symptoms went away.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And thank goodness for the NHS.