A WOMAN who collapsed at home following a mystery illness has thanked the 'angels' at a Worcester hospital who saved her life.

Retired teacher Sue Batty says ambulance and hospital staff went above and beyond the call of duty to help her despite being under tremendous pressure.

The 69-year-old of Abbey Road said she was determined to speak out about her positive care following following a critical report published by the Care Quality Commission about Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust which manages Worcester's hospital.

Mrs Batty, who feels the NHS is often taken for granted, fell ill in Portugal where she was visiting her foster family, returned home and collapsed in her lounge after she suffered a mysterious bout of total paralysis.

Husband Roger called an ambulance and she was taken to A&E Worcestershire Royal Hospital on July 31.

Grandmother Mrs Batty who also has great grandchildren through her foster family said: “My legs went from underneath me. I was a dead weight.”

Mrs Batty was treated first on a trolley in a corridor before being moved to the medical assessment unit and the high dependency unit. A GP had previously suggested she may have developed vertigo as a result of flying.

She felt exhausted, had a pain in her back and a tingling sensation in her fingers and toes. She described everything she touched as 'feeling like foam rubber'. However, when she was admitted Mrs Batty was no closer to discovering the source of her ailment, having been told it could have been a mild stroke or viral pneumonia.

She was given a blood test, X-ray and CT scan and kept under close and regular observation, including checking her temperature, as specialists tried to get to the bottom of her collapse.

Within hours she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare but serious autoimmune disorder which Mrs Batty said only affected 0.02 per cent of the population.

She said: “Admittedly, I spent a little while in a corridor but my ambulance driver brought me a bottle of water, every nurse who passed me checked I was alright and when I was treated the doctors ordered X-rays and a lumber puncture.

“The staff were overworked, dedicated, very caring and on the ball.”

Mrs Batty described staff as ‘marvellous’ and 'fantastic' while her husband said they had a really positive attitude despite being worked off their feet.

“We have experienced other medical systems in other countries and they’re not a patch on the NHS. They were absolutely brilliant” said Mr Batty.

Mrs Batty said: “Without a doubt the swift treatment I received saved my life. I was in Worcester hospital for 12 days, most of it receiving high dependency treatment. They are angels."

Her time at Worcester was followed by nine days in Pershore Community Hospital where she also had a positive experience of care.

She added: “I was treated with, respect, kindness, and compassion by everyone and could not have had better treatment if I had paid for a private hospital. The staff were always cheerful and lifted patients' spirits despite being so overworked and I thank them all for their care.

“The problem is not the staff but the lack of hospitals. Perhaps every time 600 new houses are built in the area the builders should be made to build a nursing home, doctor's surgery, school or a wing of a new hospital. I am convinced we would find the staff if conditions were made easier for them. Thank you Worcester and Pershore Hospitals, I will always be in your debt.”

For two weeks after her collapse she could not stand and had been told it could take between six months and a year to recover.

When she was able to return home with an occupational therapist the modifications to her home had already been made, ready for her. She has also been provided with a walking frame.

During her stay in hospital her family from Australia, Lorna and Will McGinnis and their children Shea and Tia, visited her in hospital.