A recovering stroke victim has hit out at health bosses claiming they didn't take his concerns about care for fellow sufferers seriously.
John Murphy of Camrose Avenue, Feltham, suffered a stroke five years ago and was treated at West Middlesex University Hospital.
Since then he has been on a mission to improve Britain's shocking stroke statistics.
But when 68-year-old put his concerns in writing to Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT) he furious to be left waiting 60 days for a response, which he received only after writing to them a further two times.
Mr Murphy, an ex-computer science lecturer at West Thames College, Isleworth, said: "Stroke care in the UK is a disgrace. This is not a trivial matter. The London Health Authority is taking it very seriously as are both our main hospitals.
"I must admit I am lost for words with the rudeness and callous indifference Hounslow PCT has shown in handling my letter."
Mr Murphy first wrote to the PCT about the Stroke Association's Lost Without Words campaign on June 26, in an attempt to bring the plight of those who had been robbed of the power of speech by a stroke to the attention of healthcare professionals. However, he also has concerns on a bigger scale.
He said: "The London Strategic Health Authority is currently in the middle of a major exercise to improve the state of stroke care in our city as shockingly, England has nearly twice as many stroke deaths a year as our closest neighbour, France, and is near the bottom of the world league."
The PCT apologised for its delay in responding to Mr Murphy's letter and said: "Stroke is an item high on the agenda of Hounslow PCT. We have had a steering group for strokes since 2001 and it includes representatives from the Stroke Association. Commissioning of services in hospital and community settings is informed by the recommendations of the group.
"We are currently re-organising our commissioning and strategy structures in response to the National Strategy for Stroke, Lord Darzi's report Healthcare for London and the very recently published stroke guidelines from the national Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and the Royal College of Physicians.
"These documents acknowledge the needs of people with stroke-related communication disorders."
