A Southend church minister experienced the life-saving expertise of the mobile stroke ambulance team first-hand - and says it must stay.
Nola Hoggard was suddenly taken ill in July.
She said: “I was going downstairs to open the church for mums and tots when I felt strange and thought I was having a stroke. My husband dialled 999 and Professor Iris Grunwald, a consultant and a nurse practitioner arrived in about 15 minutes.
“I had a brain scan on the ambulance and was taken to hospital where I immediately had another scan. They said they didn’t think I’d had a stroke but I had outpatient appointments and was discharged a month ago.”
Speed is vital when dealing with strokes, saving people from permanent disability and even death.
Mrs Gooding, 57, minister at the Southend Evangelical Church, added: “If I had been having a stroke it would have made the difference.
“It looked like a stroke and the speed they responded was fantastic.
“This is a vital service which they need to keep.”
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