"Excellence of care"

I collapsed and immediately became unconscious with a life-threatening heart attack outside Cheltenham General Hospital on the morning of 22 July this year. My wife, a former nurse, commenced CPR and was swiftly aided, firstly by a passing motorist and his lady passenger then by an ambulance crew who took me to the hospital Accident and Emergency ward and thence to an Intensive Care ward. The expert treatment I received in these early stages undoubtedly saved my life and prevented any lasting “collateral” damage to my heart, brain and other organs. I was unconscious during this period (and for a day or so afterwards) so I don’t know who these people are. I know only that my wife and I will be forever grateful that they and their medical skills were there to assist us so effectively in our case of dire need. I spent some days in the cardiac ward at Cheltenham recovering before being transferred to the cardiac wards at Gloucester Royal Hospital in preparation for the fitting of a pacemaker under the supervision of a Doctor and his team which took place on 08 August. The friendly and sympathetic treatment shown to me by staff at both hospitals and in all the wards I stayed was an immense credit to them all and a tribute to their professionalism and dedication.