"The wonderful light in the darkest, deepest despair"

My dad is receiving treatment, following a stroke at Cimla Hospital Neath.

He arrived at the hospital on a monday, and next day, presented with a chest infection. He looked. and was so ill, we thoght he would die. He was given I V antibiotics, but remaind at death's door,

We arrived on the wednesday and Dad had been encouraged by the physio team to sit in a chair! It looked wonderful when we walked into the ward to see him almost 'normal'

Dad has since had another chest infection and this weeh pneumonia!This week has been a very low point for us as a family.

My reason for telling my story is that I strongly believe that as physiotherapy is not available at the weekend Dad rapidly declines and on the monday or tuesday is again very, very poorly!

I feel that there is a strong case for physiotherapy to be available seven days a week.

The physiotherapists have been a key factor in dad's improvements. They are a breath of fresh air! Positive and confident. Always ready to give an up-date. Dad doesn't really relish the excercises, but does actually co-operate.

We had a good visit with dad this lunchtime, and saw a glimmer of his old personality. His peg feeds will re-start and he is off the oxygen. Getting Dad better is balanced very finely. He needs the physiotherapy to contiue each day!!!!

As a family, we intend to look into getting a private physio to attend to his needs at the weekend.