"Joined Up Care Across the Healthcare System"

I am writing to express my gratitude to the entire healthcare team involved in diagnosis, care, referral, and treatment for my increasingly worrying ascending cholangitis and subsequent treatment with a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy at East Surrey Hospital on Friday 1 March 2024.

My thanks must include the General Practitioners at the Wall House Surgery in Reigate, the female GP in particular who referred me for an ultrasound, prescribed antibiotics to manage one infection episode and referred me to both the Gastroenterology team and Surgical team at East Surrey Hospital. I wish I remembered her name.

I should like to thank the surgeon, Mr. Jethwa, and his team who both cared for me on admission with an acute episode of ascending cholangitis and subsequently carried out the cholecystectomy in the last few weeks. Mr. Jethwa gave me firm and fair advice on my lifestyle choices which had the desired effect. I ‘bucked up’ my ideas and lost weight for my health and in preparation for my operation to come. I must also pick out the superb team of nurses on Tandridge ward, especially Emmanuel who cared for me so well when I was very sick on the night of my admission.

I am grateful to the hospital team from the receptionist at East Surrey Surgical Admissions, possibly called Sarah who politely asked if I had any issues in wearing a mask, when I was distracted by my nervousness, in such a polite manner and with such a good welcome, to the nurses who checked my health, helped me to change and waved my a cheery good luck after I said goodbye to my wife and was guided to the Anaesthetic room and operation.

A nurse called ‘Wish’ assisted my attentive and cheerful Anaesthetist and prepared me for my operation on the table. I was aware of but will never know the large team required to support even as routine an operation as mine in that theatre and surrounding them from secretaries to managers and technicians and beyond. I believe that you are spending the NHS pound efficiently and effectively with high quality evidenced based care. I am very lucky to have such quality laparoscopic surgical treatment and health care when we know many people in our world are not so lucky when they fall ill.

I am sorry that I do not remember the name of the superb nurse who looked after me as I came round in the recovery room. She took care of my pain and attended to my well-being as one-to-one care. I could not have wished for anything more supportive. Her altruism shone through her practice more than a job or a task. I truly felt cared for. I am sorry that I do not remember her name or the Filipino Nurse supervisor with the darker uniform who also came to check on proceedings, joking with the ex-mixed martial arts Operating Department Assistant who with great cheer wheeled me to the next area of healing.

Nurse Sherilyn ‘Sher’ looked after me in the surgical recovery ward until I was well enough to be discharged home. I must thank you Sher for your kind care and attention. You managed all the possible risks for post-op care whilst teaching the keen and cheerful student Edith. You demonstrated your empathy and awareness of what it might be like for a post-op patient who is unsure what is possible, feels hungry, but not sure if he can eat, how to sit and how to walk, and you guided me superbly through my recovery for discharge to my wife who took me home.

Every department, division and section have its specialisms of care and attention and ways of working suited to the needs of the patient at that time. I imagine that each team may not always be able to be aware of one another team as they get on with their work. I can tell you that from this patient’s point of view I sensed the entire system as a single organism from GP receptionist, Phlebotomist, pharmacist, MRI Imaging, Community Ultrasound and Kate the Hepatology Nurse specialist and others I cannot remember now but I know all who contributed to the information required for assessment and treatment and carrying out my care. I am enormously grateful to you all.