'I'm so grateful to lifesaving charity' (From Swindon Advertiser)

'I'm so grateful to lifesaving charity'

9:00am Monday 14th June 2010 in News By Hayley Court

PUB landlord Simon Harrison said thanks to the doctor who he believes saved his life with a fun day for the charity SwiftMedics.

Simon, 51, who runs the Clifton Inn pub, in Clifton Street, Kingshill, chose to raise funds for the cause after SwiftMedic and pub regular Dr James Dunn forced him to seek medical assistance following a heart suspected heart attack.

The party featured rides on a miniature railway, face painting, cake stall, bouncy castle, live music, barbecue, and a tour around an Ambulance and SwiftMedic car.

He said: “I owe them my life really. If James hadn’t insisted on me going to the GP that morning I wouldn't have gone and I could have died.

“I’m a stubborn bloke and I was convinced it was just a bit of chest pain. Obviously it was a lot more serious.”

The incident happened in October 2008 when Simon began showing the classic symptoms of a heart problem as James supped a pint at the bar. The specialist registrar quickly administered a spray, which seemed to alleviate the initial problem, but made Simon promise to get a doctor’s appointment.

Simon was sent straight to hospital the next day by his doctor and was later told he had probably had a heart attack.

Alongside his job as a full-time accident and emergency doctor at Frenchay Hospital near Bristol, James is one of 10 volunteer doctors based in Wiltshire who form part of SwiftMedics, a charity which is called upon by Great Western Ambulance Service when they need back-up or someone close to an emergency to offer help.

James said: “It’s lovely to have this kind of recognition from people we have treated. Because of the nature of what we do, few remember we have even been there, especially those in road traffic accidents where in many cases we will have administered sedatives or painkillers.

“We never leave a card so it is unlikely people will know whether they were treated by SwiftMedics or the ambulance service.

“We fund SwiftMedics using donations and money from our own pockets so any additional funds can always be put to good use.”

All volunteers are qualified doctors who pay to be part of SwiftMedics.

To find out more, or to make a donation, visit www.swiftmedics.net