Appalling ‘care’

On June 15, my wife was very ill and I dialled 111. a medic was sent to see her and she was told she would have to go to hospital. The ambulance took her to Kingston Hospital, where she had tests and was told she was dehydrated and had a chest infection. She was then sent home.

Two days later, her condition was worse so after her GP had seen her, I called 111 again. a medic arrived, sent her to Kingston Hospital, where she again had tests and was then sent home, arriving at 4.15am.

after another two days, she was so ill that she couldn’t get out of bed. I again dialled 111 and the medic who attended said he would take my wife to Kingston Hospital in his car rather than wait for the ambulance.

my son went with her to ensure she was admitted this time. a CT scan showed she’d had a stroke.

I’d known there was something wrong on the monday: I said her eyes didn’t seem right. I never thought she’d had a stroke, but the doctors should surely have recognised it.

according to the Stroke association, the first three hours after a stroke are critical in limiting the impact on the brain, but it was four days before they diagnosed one. She’s now seriously ill in Kingston Hospital. I pray to God she recovers, but it will be no thanks to Kingston Hospital a&e.

It’s appalling that she was twice discharged without it being discovered she’d had a stroke.

JIM CUMMINGS, Hampton, Middx.