Madam,

A stroke is something that happens to someone else. Finding myself transported to the Specialist Stroke Unit in Bronglais Hospital was without doubt a new experience for which one had no preparation. Earlier I had been to Bronglais visiting relatives or friends, but being a patient was a new experience.

What I found was a whole city functioning like a machine on well-oiled wheels. The workforce was divide into categories according to uniform. Dark red worked on the floors and surfaces, white and pale blue were qualified nurses, bright blue had advanced qualifications, dark green were also nurses. Doctors and those with no uniforms I believe had the highest qualifications. The nationalities represented here were truly astonishing – India, Sir Lanka, Pakistan, Africa, West Indian, Bulgarian, Polish, Scandinavian, of course Welsh, Scottish, English and Irish. Each seemed to accept a role as part of a team, each worked with enthusiasm and dignity. The care of the patients came first and all was tackled with love, generosity and endless patience. An important factor to remember here was humour. I believed I laughed out loud more times than I could say during my week’s stay. For many, English was a second language. Aberystwyth of course is bilingual and it was a pleasure to note that Welsh had an equal status with English and was visible everywhere. “Gweinyddu Cyffuriau”, “Drugs Administration” blazoned on the relevant aprons.Today the question of immigration and the fate of refugees continues to hit the headlines. Yet here in Bronglais we have a truly multicultural service which our health service has always promised. A work-force that appears happy and fulfilled at all levels and, as William Morris would have said, “who work with joy”.

My stay only lasted a week and I was to be constantly entertained by the drama which unfolded around me and to observe the great care given to individuals who would not be capable of writing about what they had experienced. Without doubt the Specialist Stroke Unit at Bronglais proves that a multicultural approach works and should be used as a model for units elsewhere. Bronglais is a star and should be celebrated.

This needs to be remembered. Whilst the Tories are deliberately unpicking the welfare state set up by two Welsh giants, Lloyd George and Aneurin Bevan. More than ever in these confusing and rudderless times, we need a strong leadership with a vision. Now we need Owain Glyndwr to awake!

Yours etc

Mary Lloyd Jones

Iorwerth Avenue

Aberystwyth.