A HOSPITAL receptionist who went above and beyond to help a man who thought he was having a heart attack has been hailed a hero.
Susan Buckley, who works in the audiology department at the Alexandra Hospital, has been presented with an NHS Unsung Hero Award after a patient who was due for a scheduled appointment left a telephone message saying he thought he was having a heart attack.
The 53-year-old, whose husband suffered from a heart attack four years ago, tried to call the man back but failed to get through.
Thinking on her feet, she called his GP surgery to see if he had contacted them but they had not heard from him.
After fearing the worst she called 999 and the man was treated in A&E where it was confirmed he had experienced an angina attack.
The Walkwood resident said she was shocked and embarrassed to receive the GoToJobBoard accolade which recognises non-clinical and non-medical staff for their unnoticed work.
“The thought of him being on his own and not knowing what was going on made me really worry for him.” she said.
“My heart was pounding. I spent the whole day thinking about him and when he came into the department I could have kissed him.
“Working in the hearing aid department you don’t really experience things like this.
“I’m really embarrassed because I would like to think, presented with those circumstances, that someone would do the same thing.
“I was just doing my job, I work in the caring profession and it is what I’m supposed to do.”
