A Halifax man who suffered a stroke in July while he was dining out with his wife Noriko has returned to CHFT to thank everyone for his care that saved his life.

Francis Atkinson was blue lighted to CRH from the café in Halifax where he was rapidly assessed for thrombolysis and thrombectomy by the Stroke team - a first for our Trust.

Mr Francis, 72, went on to make an amazing recovery and  was back in Halifax after a day in Leeds General Infirmary. And now he's been back to deliver his own special thanks to our staff.

He said: “ I am very lucky. I know some people who are in wheelchairs after a stroke and I feel very, very lucky.

“ I only went to Leeds for a day and everybody was so surprised to see me back so soon. I made an amazing recovery and it’s all due to the care from everyone from start to finish at CRH.”

 He was able to watch the thrombectomy on a monitor and only a local anaesthetic was used in his groin.

Noriko said: “ I saw half his face slide down and I just knew what it is – before he did. I said” Are you having a stroke?” and he said no. That TV ad made all the difference. I was so frightened for about two days but now thanks to all the care I have my husband back.”

Here everyone involved in the thrombectomy pathway share their views about being involved in an amazing first for our Trust. Pictured are, left to right: Philippa Sanders – (Stroke Thrombolysis Nurse), Sanjeev Prasad (Stroke Consultant), Mr Atkinson (Patient), Noriko (Mr Atkinson's wife, Tracy Parry – (Senior Radiographer), Manika Jayawardena - (Consultant Radiologist)

Sanjeev Prasad – Stroke Consultant

"It gave me immense pleasure, pride and confidence in looking after Mr Atkinson, a left handed gentleman, who came with profound left sided weakness.

He had an Ischaemic stroke, and once the head scan confirmed a Thrombus (clot), he was promptly Thromboloysed and was referred to Leeds for Thrombectomy, (taking the clot out) a new service introduced recently.

Mr Atkinson was our first patient to successfully avail the full benefits of this service.

As a stroke consultant, I was well supported by Philippa, our Thrombolysis nurse, who did an excellent job under pressure.

Once Mr Atkinson was scanned by our senior Radiographer Tracy, we got a timely and efficient input from Jay, our radiologist.

As a result of Thrombectomy, Mr Atkinson was discharged from the hospital within 48 hours with complete recovery.

It was quite heartening, and gratifying to see Mr Atkinson with his wife recently, back to his normal self."

Philippa Sanders – Stroke Thrombolysis Nurse

"Being involved in Mr Atkinson’s care was challenging yet extremely rewarding. As it was the first Thrombectomy that the team had encountered it was a new venture for us all. We worked well under new pressures to ensure that Mr Atkinson received timely and effective treatment. I am extremely proud to be a Stroke Thrombolysis nurse and I feel honoured to have been an integral part of Mr Atkinson’s journey." 

Manika Jayawardena - Consultant Radiologist

"As a CHFT Radiologist I am massively proud to be associated with Mr Atkinson’s ground breaking case and delighted with the hugely positive outcome. It was amazing to meet Mr Atkinsons in person and doing so well when barely a few weeks ago he was gravely ill. This goes to show what we can achieve for our patients with close liaison and co-operation between specialities both within the Trust and also with our Tertiary Neurosciences Centre in Leeds! Well done to everyone!"

Tracy Parry – Radiographer  

"The CT department is excited to be involved with the implementation of the Thrombectomy pathway at CHFT and to be working in collaboration with the Stroke team, paramedics and the thrombectomy team in Leeds.

We are continually adapting our practices and protocols as we all learn from each other. We feel privileged to have been a part of Mr Atkinson's care; I am personally thrilled to have met him and his wife more recently. We rarely have the pleasure of meeting our patients and Mr Atkinson's successful diagnosis and treatment is of huge encouragement to our entire department."