Prue Leith rushed to hospital over stroke fears after struggling with speech

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Dame Prue Leith was recently rushed to hospital over fears she was having a stroke.

The former Great British Bake Off judge, 86, was on holiday in Yorkshire when she suffered a migraine that left her struggling to speak.

However, her husband John Playfair became worried about her symptoms, calling their doctor, who then ordered an ambulance.

Writing in her column Prue’s News in the September issue of The Oldie magazine, which is out on Friday, Dame Prue wrote: “A few weeks ago, staying in Yorkshire, I had a migraine attack. It followed a familiar path. First, I can see only half of whatever I’m looking at.

“This is speedily followed by a bright circle of flickering, coloured lights in the upper right field of vision. If I don’t swiftly swallow one of my migraine ‘bombs’ (three pills: paracetamol, ibuprofen and sumatriptan), a crashing headache will follow.”

After suffering migraine attacks since she was nine years old, Dame Prue said she carried medication in her handbag, washbag and her husband’s shoulder bag.

However, she recently faced a “rare” symptom – which she said saw her speech “go bananas”.

She continued: “This time, my incomprehensible jumble of disconnected words convinced John I was having a stroke. I tried to tell him it was just a migraine, but I couldn’t string two words together.

“He rang our doctor, who asked me, could I raise my arms? Yes. Make a fist? Yes. Did anything hurt? No. Was the side of my face drooping? No.

“In spite of my answers, she ordered an ambulance to take me to Harrogate Hospital.”

After being looked at by a paramedic and nurse, Dame Prue said that she had to wait to see a doctor for hours.

She then had to undergo a CT scan, before eventually being leaving hospital after 10 hours.

In her column, Dame Prue praised the NHS workers who helped care for her, calling them “cheerful, sympathetic, polite, helpful and professional”.

Source: Read the original article on www.standard.co.uk