PUMCH’s ‘Green Channel’ saves British stroke patient during golden hour

A British tourist who suffered an acute stroke and jaw fracture returned to the United Kingdom with his wife on July 23, following successful treatment by a multidisciplinary team at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

The cross-border rescue highlights the robust emergency response and compassionate care that leading Chinese medical institutions provide to international patients.

The patient, identified only as Mike, received intravenous thrombolysis within an hour of his emergency arrival on July 3, securing the critical "golden hour" window for stroke intervention.

On the evening of July 3, Mike, who was visiting China, fell and developed slurred speech and limb weakness. The trauma complicated stroke diagnosis. PUMCH immediately mobilized emergency, neurology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery teams for simultaneous intervention. While completing thrombolysis risk screening, clinicians treated his jaw fracture in parallel.

Doctor Liu Ziyue, Mike's attending neurologist, noted that when traumatic injuries overlap with stroke symptoms, standardized multidisciplinary protocols allow the medical team to arrive at an accurate diagnosis in the shortest possible time. This represents the core of "PUMCH expertise" in complex emergency treatment.

During hospitalization, doctors developed a personalized rehabilitation plan for Mike, while specialists from the Department of Stomatology provided regular wound care and arranged customized liquid diets. As the couple had no relatives or acquaintances in China, they faced multiple challenges, including language barriers, insurance claims, visa concerns, and payment issues. PUMCH medical staff members proactively liaised with the British insurance company, offered visa consultation and provided health-related advice in English, accompanied by simple auxiliary gestures, to eliminate communication barriers.

Before discharge, the couple shared their appreciation in a handwritten thank-you letter.

"Peking Union Medical College Hospital provided exceptional treatment and care. We have traveled widely and greatly valued the attentive service we received here," they wrote.

The couple thanked all hospital staff members, including physicians, nurses, nursing aides, cleaners and catering workers.

Yao Jia, ward head nurse, said efficient emergency treatment and considerate services for foreign patients are standard routine practices at the hospital.

"We merely fulfill our duties wholeheartedly to reassure every patient," she said.

Li Yiqian contributed to this story.