"A&E Diagnosis of my stroke"

I am writing to express my thanks and appreciation to the wonderful stroke team at Fairfield Hospital for their professionalism, speed and kindness when I was admitted to A&E on the morning of Friday 22 August 2014. I was immediately placed in a cubicle without delay, given various blood and neurological tests, placed on a heart monitor and given a CT scan which showed that I had suffered an intracerebral haemorrhage. Their quick diagnosis was even more impressive as I did any exhibit the classic and well published symptoms (the F A S T) signs of a stroke which meant that I could so easily have been sent home if the doctors and nurses had not been so thorough. Indeed when my husband telephoned 999 for an ambulance we were informed by their triage team that I was not being classed as a priority at that time, consequently it was nearly 90 minutes before the ambulance arrived. I must stress that the ambulance crew (the paramedics) who attended were superb, quick, caring and attentive. Thank you again to all the staff in A&E for being so thorough in the diagnosis and for seeing “the wood as well as the trees”.