I have visited Singapore many, many times in the past 25 years, sometimes on business, sometimes pleasure or a combination of both.

My wife and I have always enjoyed our trips and admired the fantastic city, well-run businesses and the brilliant efficiency that is the hallmark of your wonderful country.

However, my last trip a few weeks ago brought to light another facet of the people-handling skills that your country and countrymen possess.

After a pretty hectic two weeks of international business travel, I finished my trip with what I thought would be four relaxing days in my favourite city, Singapore.

I was scheduled to catch the Qantas night flight from Changi to Sydney. While packing in my hotel room at the Royal Plaza on Scotts, I became very dizzy and collapsed, fully conscious, onto the floor. My left side was completely paralysed. I was like a beached whale floundering to try and get, unsuccessfully, to the hotel phone. Frightened and very alone (my wife was in London visiting her elderly mother), I managed to reach up and pull down my mobile phone. I pressed redial and was answered immediately by my friend, Stephen Codron, in Singapore.

'Stephen, I am on the floor of my hotel and I think I'm having a stroke. Help!'

He told me to hang up and he would get to the hotel. He called back almost immediately to tell me help was on the way. As I hung up, a very burly security guard burst into my room followed by the head of security and the duty manager. I will tell you more about these great people and fantastic hotel later.

Two of them started to massage my left side and, within a reasonably short time, I was again able to move. They had called an ambulance and this arrived very swiftly with two smiling Singaporean paramedics joining the party in my room and adding reassurances that I was OK and would be fine. They checked the vital signs, gave me oxygen and took me to the Singapore General Hospital.

I do not wish to take up too much space with the details. Suffice to say all of the staff and the care I received was exceptional. I have never in my 60 years been hospitalised, but have seen too many experiences in both Australia and the UK where people have waited long periods of time to be attended to. I was only in the emergency department a matter of minutes before my head was being cat-scanned.

I was taken to a ward and was almost immediately seen by a professor of neurology and his team (by now it was around 8 pm). He told me that he was 90 per cent certain I had suffered a minor stroke but that in the morning I would have an MRI scan to confirm. The attention, care, understanding and genuine concern for my welfare displayed by every single member of staff that I encountered at your marvellous facility was inspiring and totally reassuring.

The next morning I had the MRI, the professor confirmed I had indeed suffered a stroke but as I seemed to be in pretty good shape he felt that I would be able to return to the hotel the following day and that I could fly home after five days, with a stern warning to take it easy and see a neurologist as soon as I returned to Sydney.

May I take this opportunity to, firstly, thank everyone at Singapore General Hospital. Secondly, to congratulate Singapore and the administrators of the hospital for such a marvellous and proficiently run (what an understatement!) facility.

May I also thank all at the Royal Plaza Hotel on Scotts for the way in which they too looked after me. The big burly security guard, who I learned later was called Anil, is an Indian Singaporean and I now refer to him as my big brother. From the time I arrived in the ambulance at the emergency department to the time I was admitted into the ward, Anil stayed by my side to comfort me and to see if there was anything I needed. Not only did he quite possibly save my life and/or prevent serious damage, but he came, in his own time, to visit me in the hospital and see if there was anything I needed. On my second day in the hospital, the hotel sent a huge basket of fruit and a bouquet of flowers. Plus another visit from Anil.

Upon my release from hospital and during the five days at the hotel before flying home, Anil, his boss Allan, all of the concierge staff and Patrick Fiat (the general manager) and his staff kept an eye on me. My son arrived from Australia to look after me and accompany me back to Sydney. He too was given the royal treatment by Anil and all at the hotel.

I stay in hotels all around the world and I can honestly say that I cannot think of anywhere else where I would have received such lavish attention and genuine care. I have now been away from Singapore for five weeks. On Tuesday, I received a text message from Anil asking about my health and he showed his usual genuine concern for my welfare. I should also mention that his text messages are a weekly occurrence.

An apology if this is a long epistle. But I cannot put in fewer words my gratitude to the Singapore General Hospital and its staff. To the Royal Plaza on Scotts, thank you, too. My family and I refer to you as my Singaporean family.

Thank you so much, Singapore.

Sir Kerry Jewel

KCST