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I am very lucky my symptoms presented on a Friday.

Posted By irregularityILH61

"I am very lucky my symptoms presented on a Friday."

About: Acute Stroke Unit / Hyper Acute Stroke Unit Scottish Ambulance Service / Emergency Ambulance

(as the patient),

I had a stroke at home recently. The ambulance crew came within 20mins and got me to nine wells hospital stroke unit within an hour.

The paramedics Jamie, Megan and Jade were fantastic from the moment they arrived to examine me up until they diligently handed me over to their colleagues in the stoke unit.

I was immediately seen by Consultant Yu and his team. I was taken for CT scan which did not show any bleeding but suggested a clot high in the brain. I was given clot busting meds within the hour which I am told made the critical difference to the positive outcome I experienced. I understand this treatment is only available Mon- Friday. I am very lucky my symptoms presented on a Friday. If not, it could have been a very different outcome, a very frightening thought.

I would like to sincerely thank all the fantastic nurses that looked after my welfare. Special thanks go to Junior doctor Chuck, Consultant Yu, Student nurse Megan, nurse Gill who registered me into the ward, nurse Kirsty who gave me the clot busting meds, nurse Gill who looked after me through the night. Consultant (lady) and junior doctor Ellen who looked after my case over the weekend. Last, but certainly not least, Laura the physio who expertly assessed my condition before discharging me.

I explained to Laura I am slightly anxious about going home, leaving the safe environment of the ward and the nurses. Laura explained that she would trigger the stroke liaison staff for remote contact support.

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Responses

Response from David King, Patient Experience Coordinator, Corporate Affairs, Scottish Ambulance Service 10 months ago
David King
Patient Experience Coordinator, Corporate Affairs,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 27/06/2023 at 13:59
Published on Care Opinion at 13:59

Dear IrregularityILH61

Thank you for sharing your story. It must have been a very worrying time for you so I am heartened to read of the great care you received from the Scottish Ambulance Service and Ninewells Hospital.

If you would like me to pass on your kind words to Jamie, Megan and Jade could I ask that you contact our Patient Experience Team at sas.feedback@nhs.scot with your name, Care Opinion name, the address and date we attended.

I wish you all the best for your continued recovery.

Kindest regards

David

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Response from Matthew Lambert, Stroke Consultant, Ward 5, NHS Tayside 10 months ago
We are preparing to make a change
Matthew Lambert
Stroke Consultant, Ward 5,
NHS Tayside

Submitted on 29/06/2023 at 10:31
Published on Care Opinion at 10:35

Dear IrregularityILH61,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and I am glad to hear you have made a good recovery. I hope you continue to recover. Thank you also for sharing the feedback about members of the stroke team at Ninewells Hospital. I will share your feedback with the wider team including those you have named as it always helps the team to hear feedback - thank you for taking the time to do that.

Access to thrombolysis (the treatment you received) is actually available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The treatment that currently has limited availability that I suspect my colleagues were talking about is thrombectomy. This is only suitable for people with very large clots (it doesn't sound like your stroke was amenable to this treatment) and unfortunately is currently only available in limited hours throughout Scotland while more doctors in the team are trained up to safely deliver this treatment and therefore be available to deliver this around the clock. There are plans being put in place in Tayside as well as across Scotland to expand the hours the treatment is available.

Thank you again for taking time to give your feedback.

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Update posted by irregularityILH61 (the patient)

Dear Doctor Lambert,

Thank you so much for your kind words. I apologise for my misunderstanding of the availability and application of thrombolysis

As you can imagine, it is a huge relief to know such wonderful treatment is available 24/7. Thank you for taking time to explain the facts.

Please note there is another consultant not mentioned in my original post. Honestly, I can’t remember her name (shame on me) but she was extremely thorough and supportive throughout my care / treatment. She worked closely with Dr Ellen on Saturday / Sunday.

Thank you all once again

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