Isle of Wight first responder recalls own heart attack care

Murray Clark experienced, first hand, being treated by medics on the Isle of Wight and in Portsmouth and has been talking about it, just a week after health bosses in the two areas unveiled plans to merge their acute clinical and leadership teams. 

Murray, who spent nine years with the South East Coast Ambulance Service and is a community first responder for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service, awoke in the early hours of the morning with severe chest pains.

He took aspirin and heartburn medication but it was not until he took his blood pressure - which read as being over 200 - that he realised he was having a heart attack.

• Read more: Isle of Wight NHS health chief on acute services leadership change

He said: "I woke my wife up, told her what I thought was happening and she drove me to St Mary’s Hospital.

"I was quickly triaged and a nurse performed an electrocardiogram (ECG).

"It confirmed I had experienced a STEMI heart attack."

A STEMI heart attack is most serious type, where there is a long interruption to the blood supply and it can cause extensive damage to a large area of the heart.

Murray said: "The medical team were fantastic and acted quickly.

"They were calm, collected and kept me informed of what was happening every step of the way."

Vital treatment was quickly administered and within 15 minutes, his pain had eased.

The emergency team used thrombolysis, which treats stroke cases and helps to remove blot clots, cutting the risk of further problems.

After his emergency care, Murray required more from the cardiology team at Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital in Portsmouth - after being transferred to the mainland by ambulance, via Hovertravel.

He has been recalling his own experience as patients ask questions about what closer working will look like - and whether they should be worried about more cross Solent travel under the plans.

As previously reported by the County Press, Isle of Wight NHS Trust chief executive Darren Cattell said "We're going to have to get better at our transport and travel arrangements for people leaving the Isle of Wight for health services - be it patients, relatives or staff.

"At the moment, they are not good enough. They take too long, they're not convenient and they're costly."

He was also quick to point out how the move would protect services on the Isle of Wight and promised seamless care and no major shift of services to the mainland. 

In Portsmouth, Murray's arteries were cleared and four stents were fitted and he says the process really was seamless.

Just days after his heart attack, he was discharged and he was back at work six weeks later.

He said: "Since my heart attack, I have returned to both hospitals for follow up appointments and the aftercare I have received from the teams has been faultless."