A QUICK thinking doctor has been praised for saving a woman's life after she suffered a bleed on the brain.

When Nadia Georgiou, 37, who suffers from frequent migraines, developed a severe headache one evening she thought strong painkillers would deal with it.

She called her GP at the Ashingdon Medical Centre, in Lascelles Gardens, Ashingdon, just as the surgery was closing for the day.

Instead of being told to call back the next day or go to a pharmacy, Mrs Georgiou was told to go in for an emergency appointment.

Dr Naiyan Patel was worried about her symptoms and wanted to examine her himself.

His fears that she could be suffering a bleed on her brain turned out to be true.

Mrs Georgiou was referred to hospital where a subarachnoid haemorrhage was later confirmed.

Mrs Georgiou, of Ashingdon Road, believes she could have suffered a catastrophic stroke at any moment if it had not been for Dr Patel's diligence and care.

He said: "It was late on a Friday evening and the surgery was closing. I'd just wanted some stronger painkillers but Dr Patel told me to get to the surgery by 6.30pm.

"He took my blood pressure and checked me over and told me to go to the hospital to be checked.

"I drove myself to the hospital. They did a CT scan which didn't show anything but they did a lumbar puncture and found blood in my spinal fluid, indicating I'd had a bleed in my brain."

She has taken to Queen's Hospital, London for urgent treatment and was in a critical care unit for four days.

Mrs Georgiou said: "I had to have complete rest and drugs to bring my blood pressure down. There was no further bleed and I was allowed home.

"I am going back to Queen's to thank the wonderful staff there. They were lovely and caring and so professional but if I hadn't been for Dr Patel, it could have been so different. The fact it was caught so early saved me. He could have told me to go a pharmacy or come back the next day but he didn't. I still can't believe what happened. I can't thank him enough."

Mrs Georgiou, mum to 18-year-old son Martin and wife to George, 61, is now under a neurologist to monitor her condition.

Dr Patel said: "It happened on Friday, May 6. Nadia had a severe headache which could be caused by a subarachnoid haemorrhage, a severe form of stroke. It can be very dangerous and a lot of people pass away before getting to hospital.

"I arranged for a referral to hospital. At that stage the diagnosis wasn't certain but it needed to be checked. I'm very pleased with the outcome - it could have been a lot worse."