The county Fermanagh Police Chief Inspector has said if it were not for the South West Acute Hospital he would not be here today.
Roy Robinson, who suffered a heart attack in February last year praised the nurses and doctors at SWAH who he claims “saved his life”.
“I was fortunate that through the skills of the heart, chest and stroke team my life was saved on Sunday 18 February. I was just blessed to be so close to the hospital when it happened. We are blessed with these wonderful services in Fermanagh,” he said.
Chief Inspector Robinson went on to explain the circumstances surrounding his heart attack.
“If I hadn’t have been half a mile from the hospital when I took bad, my wife took me from church to SWAH, and only for that I wouldn’t be here talking to you today.
“I had cancer in the eighties and lost a third of my body weight at that time, but the difference with cancer is that you have time, you don’t have to move at the same speed. When it came to my heart if it hadn’t have been for those services it would have been very different.”
On the day he suffered a heart attack Mr Robinson had a stent fitted in Altnagelvin and then returned to SWAH.
“The sister in the ward said, ‘Roy I cannot believe that you made it back, I didn’t believe you would survive to Altnagelvin. I’ve been here for 23 years and you’re the worst case I have ever seen’. I was fortunate to be cared for at SWAH. On 10 May I had a quadruple heart bypass and came back to work in August 2018. In February I returned to Enniskillen where I started my career.”
Mr Robinson was speaking at a time when a deadline for consultation on stroke services at SWAH has just passed. He remarked, “I am a real advocate for our hospital here. The services are outstanding.
“There are so many people relying on the hospital and I for one will be forever grateful for whatever length of time I live.”
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