Norwegian tourist thanks UHNM staff for saving his life

A Norwegian tourist has thanked University Hospitals of North Midlands for saving his life after his relaxing Easter break took a dramatic turn.

Carl, of Oslo, Norway, was visiting friends in Ashley on 10 April when he began to get chest pain and shortness of breath during a walk in the Staffordshire countryside. He was transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital by West Midlands Ambulance Service after his hosts dialled 999.

Today the 59-year-old said it was a scary time but was grateful for the care received by all NHS staff in A&E, the Cath Lab and cardiology.

He said: “I wish to express my greatest gratitude to all the good people working at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, as well as the great crew of West Midlands Ambulance Service. The ambulance arrived very fast and they did an excellent and professional job examining me as well as making both me and my wife feel secure and safe.

“At A&E I was diagnosed with an acute heart attack and was very well taken care of by the staff. They showed a high level of professionalism and gave me a lot of tender love and care at a very scary and difficult time for me. I was then transferred to cardiac care ward 221, where the good and professional care and treatment continued.”

Carl was given an angiogram in the cath lab and had two stents fitted.

He added: “Due to fast and professional treatment everything went well. I´m forever grateful for the good care and treatment both the ambulance and hospital staff showed me - a non UK-citizen - during this acute heart attack. We are well aware of that the outcome of this situation could have been much worse without the hospital’s excellent and competent staff. 

“All the staff involved in my care have impressed me and my wife and we went back to Norway with great confidence for the NHS North Midlands.  From the bottom of my new treated and improved heart, an extreme big thank you!  They really saved my life, and I am now slowly recovering back home. “

Tracy Bullock, UHNM Chief Executive, said: “It is not very often we do treat people who are on their holidays and it was a great pleasure to hear of Carl’s positive experience, how he was cared for and the speed in which he was treated.”