TWO NHS Direct nurse advisors -- one of whom lives in Astley -- are being commended after their advice helped save a life.

Lydia Martin from Astley and colleague Joanne Denny were on hand when the daughter of recently diagnosed diabetic, Pauline Strafford called panicking about her mother's condition.

The advisors were able to identify that the 45-year-old was having a hypoglycaemic attack. They calmed Rachel down and sent an ambulance to the house just minutes before the patient collapsed.

Pauline is now in good health and is learning to cope with diabetes, she said she owes her life to the professionalism of NHS Direct.

Symptoms

"It's thanks to NHS Direct that I was diagnosed with diabetes in the first place. I had been suffering all the classic symptoms for several months, including blurred vision, a craving for fizzy drinks and dramatic weight loss but I just put it down to my age."

When Pauline first called the helpline she was advised by Lydia, who immediately suspected diabetes, to seek an emergency appointment with her GP.

Lydia and Joanne will be presented with their awards today at a ceremony at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.