Uniting the healthcare sector has never been more important

It was back in January when Keith Amder first noticed pain in his back. He went to visit his GP, suspecting that he had a slipped disc. Instead, his GP referred him for an MRI. He knew something was seriously wrong when he received a call from his doctor the same evening as his MRI. He was told that they had found a 5cm growth which was pushing on his bladder and spleen.

Following a CT scan and investigation of his bowel, it was decided that surgery would be required. Commenting on the impact of the growth, Keith added: “I was in a massive amount of pain. It was pushing quite firmly on my bladder and pelvis, causing incredibly uncomfortable stabbing pains.”

Coronavirus and its impact on time-critical care
Keith was originally due to have his operation at Whipps Cross Hospital, but due to the outbreak of coronavirus and the need to free up capacity in NHS hospitals to treat patients critically unwell with COVID-19, his care was transferred to The Princess Grace Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK. This was made possible through a ground-breaking new partnership between the NHS and the independent sector to ensure vital care can continue as safely as possible during the pandemic.

Upon admission, Keith underwent coronavirus tests and a CT scan to ensure that it was safe to operate. Two days later, the operation went ahead. Mr Pasquale Giordano, Consultant Surgeon at Whipps Cross Hospital, travelled across the capital to perform the procedure, with support from The Princess Grace Hospital team.

Surgical success
Keith had understandable concerns prior to surgery: “Would my surgeon be able to remove the growth as planned? What if it has spread? Would I need a stoma bag? All of these worries were put at ease when I woke up from surgery. It had been a complete success and the growth had been removed and sent for tests. I also didn’t need a stoma bag, which was a huge relief.”

Mr Giordano was, in fact, not only able to remove the visible growth, but remove the skin around the growth, which he hopes will prevent any future spread and reduce the need for chemotherapy, should the tumour be malignant. Keith added: “I couldn’t be more grateful to Mr Giordano and the team. By removing extra tissue around the growth, it should hopefully mean that I won’t have to return to hospital to receive further care. He was always thinking one step ahead, even when under an immense amount of pressure. I truly believe that he and his team saved my life.”

Smooth recovery and discharge
Recovery went smoothly at The Princess Grace Hospital too: “The morning after my surgery I was feeling understandably groggy, but I was encouraged to begin some light physiotherapy, which I did. By the following morning, I went for a walk with the physiotherapist. I coped so well with the walk, that by the end of the session I was able to manage a flight of stairs unaided – my physiotherapist looked quite surprised at how quick I was progressing.”

Six days after Keith was first admitted to The Princess Grace Hospital, he was discharged home, to spend time recovering with his wife by his side. When asked to summarise his stay and the care he received, he added: “Everyone that I came into contact with before and after surgery were incredibly kind, calm and reassuring. I couldn’t be happier with the care I received by such a dedicated team.”