Yulia Skripal has made her first public comment since being poisoned in Britain last month along with her ex-Russian spy father Sergei, saying the "entire episode is somewhat disorientating".

Key points: Yulia Skripal said her "strength is growing daily" and thanked hospital staff

Yulia Skripal said her "strength is growing daily" and thanked hospital staff She has declined help from Russia's embassy, Britain's Foreign Office says

She has declined help from Russia's embassy, Britain's Foreign Office says Her father is in critical but stable condition

The Skripals were found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4 in a nerve agent attack that the British Government has blamed on Russia, although Moscow denies any involvement.

"I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily," Ms Skripal said in a statement issued by London police.

"I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received.

"I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you'll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence."

The 33-year-old thanked the hospital staff treating her and the people who came to her help "when my father and I were incapacitated".

The attack left the Skripals in a critical condition, but on March 29 the hospital where they are being treated said Ms Skripal was getting better.

Britain's Foreign Office said she had been offered assistance from Russia's embassy but had so far declined its help.

Sergei Skripal was found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury last month. ( News Video )

Hospital bosses said her father was still in a critical but stable condition in an intensive care unit.

In response to the attack, more than two dozen Western allies including Britain, the US, Australia and NATO ordered out over 150 Russian diplomats in a show of solidarity.

Moscow expelled an equal number of envoys in response, with the diplomatic turmoil hitting lows unseen even at the height of the Cold War.

Alleged phone call between Yulia and her cousin emerges

Sorry, this video has expired An audio recording of an alleged phone call between Yulia Skripal and her cousin. ( An audio recording of an alleged phone call between Yulia Skripal and her cousin. )

In another bizarre twist to the Russian spy scandal, state TV in Moscow played a recording of a one-and-a-half-minute phone call purportedly between Ms Skripal and her cousin Viktoria.

The television channel stressed that the authenticity of the recording had not been verified.

Viktoria: Oh Yulka (diminutive of Yulia), it is you! I recognise from your voice that it is you but cannot understand. So they gave you a telephone, didn't they? Yulia (alleged): Yes, yes Viktoria: Thanks God, is everything OK with you? The other woman says everything is fine and warns her cousin she won't get a visa to visit her in hospital Viktoria: Is everything OK with your father? Yulia (alleged): Everything is OK. He is resting now, having a sleep. Everyone's health is fine, there are no irreparable things. I will be discharged soon. Everything is OK.

In Ms Skripal's statement from Scotland Yard there was no mention of that phone call or the condition of her father.

Her comments were released while the Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko was giving a press conference at the Russian embassy.

He was asked if the phone call recorded in Moscow was genuine. He did not give a definitive answer but again pushed for access to Ms Skripal.

The ambassador said he was happy she was recovering.

"And I hope that Sergei Skripal will also recover," he said.

"And I am quite sure that one day Yulia will come back to Moscow where she has a job, apartments, you know, she's a wealthy person and she's doing well.

"As far as the father, that's his choice, you know, he decided to live here in the UK — no problem."

The ambassador again protested over what he said was Britain's refusal to give Moscow access to the Skripals and for refusing to reveal what evidence has led them to accuse Russia of being behind the poisoning.

Sorry, this video has expired Vladimir Putin says Skripal case is lacking common sense.

ABC/wires