ON TUESDAY, January 24 I found myself in a completely unexpected and dangerous medical condition to my spine which I was totally unaware of.

I would like to publicly thank through your newspaper all of the NHS staff both in Yeovil and subsequently Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital who genuinely cared deeply about the situation I was in, in an extremely professional and efficient manner.

Dr Bridge at Martock surgery, the young radiologist at South Petherton hospital, correctly identified my problem and immediately put in place the correct procedures to have me transferred straight away to Yeovil where a team of people had been alerted to my condition.

The ambulance men for the transfer, the staff in A&E, the doctors, radiologists, haematologists, occupational therapists, nurses and other staff on ward 6B at the time all looked after me with the greatest of care for the next 30 hours.

On the Wednesday evening, a decision had been taken to transfer me to the spinal care unit at Musgrove, Taunton, so thanks go to the two people who carried out the transfer so carefully.

I was admitted into the spinal care unit at Musgrove. Staff there had already been briefed as to my situation.

I would now like to thank, the young doctor who carried out the initial checks on me and who was later joined that evening by the consultant Mr Subramanian for further discussion.

Nurses and others on Hestercombe room 18, room 1 and the HDU then took me into their expert care for the next six days, continually monitoring me throughout the day and night.

These staff were joined at various times by doctors, radiologists, haematologists, specialist spine injury nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and not forgetting all the porters, caterers, admin staff and cleaners.

Finally, I would like to thank the surgeon Mr Madhavan and his team, anaesthetist Dr James Sydney and his team and anybody else in the operating theatre who so expertly carried out a very complicated but very successful operation on the day of January 27.

I cannot speak highly enough of all the staff that I came into contact with. I remember only some of the names, but all of the faces.

They work long hours and care passionately about the people who they come into contact with. They do an absolutely fantastic job!

Thank you.

KEN M
Martock