COVID-19 patient thanks Kingston Hospital staff
The first patient with COVID-19 to be treated in Kingston Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit has shared his story and thanked the staff who cared for him and supported his recovery.
Michael Sansom, aged 50, spent nine weeks in Kingston Hospital after contracting COVID-19, including 45 days in an induced coma.
During his time on the intensive care unit, Michael suffered from renal failure and his loved ones were prepared for the worst. Michael said: “It was easy for me – I was unaware of everything that was happening, but I cannot begin to imagine what my loved ones were going through. At one point I was given what the doctors thought would be my final round of medication before they would need to switch off the ventilators, but thankfully my condition improved. I know that the support of the wonderful chaplaincy team at the hospital was invaluable to my partner at the time.”
During his recovery on the Intensive Care Unit, Michael was able to keep in touch with his loved ones using video calls, facilitated by hospital staff.
Once well enough, Michael was moved to Kingston Hospital’s Keats Ward, where he continued his recovery and began rehabilitation.
Reflecting on his time on Keat’s Ward, Michael said: “I owe so much to the occupational therapists and physiotherapists. I went from being unable to walk at all, to regaining movement in such a short space of time. The team did an amazing job in helping me to get back on my feet and to feel well again. I would not be where I am today, without them.”
Now back at home in Thames Ditton, Michael has had the opportunity to reflect on his time in hospital and has paid tribute to all the staff that cared for him.
“I am eternally grateful to the wonderful staff at Kingston Hospital. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart, for saving my life. I am forever in their debt – together we beat the virus.”
Michael continued: “It has been an amazing journey and I am now looking to the future. I see this as a new beginning for me.”
Jonathan Villanueva, a tracheostomy practitioner and physiotherapist who cared for Michael during his time at Kingston Hospital, said: “All I can say is that he is a remarkable fighter. All the staff at Kingston Hospital who provided him with care, treatment and rehabilitation were truly instrumental in helping him beat the virus. I am very glad that he is now recovering at home and enjoying the nice weather! I wish Michael all the very best and good luck on his journey to full recovery.”
A virtual visit from The Duchess of Cambridge
To mark Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week in May, The Duchess of Cambridge spoke with Kingston Hospital midwives, health visitors, parents and leading sector experts about the challenges and impact that COVID-19 is having on new and expectant mothers and their families.
Speaking with Kingston Hospital’s midwives via video call, The Duchess heard about the ways in which staff are ensuring that women continue to have the best possible support before, during and after birth.
She also spoke with new mother, Rebecca Attwood, on the maternity ward about her experience. Rebecca said: “Having a baby is an extraordinary experience at any time, but having one during lockdown and then having a surprise conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge after two hours’ sleep was particularly surreal! The Duchess asked us about having a baby at such an unusual time, and our experience on the maternity ward was that all the midwives made it as normal as possible – apart from the masks, it was exactly the same as when we had our first son Rafe, in 2015. The midwives at Kingston Hospital were amazing on both occasions.”
Jennifer Tshibamba, Midwife at Kingston Hospital, said: “I want women to know we’re still here, we’re still open. Even with what’s going on, we’re here to listen to you, we’re still here to make sure we provide you with the best care for your pregnancy, for your baby and support your family.”
Gina Brockwell, Director of Midwifery at Kingston Hospital said: “I am extremely proud of the team at Kingston for the way they have worked within the national guidelines to adapt their ways of working in recent weeks to ensure that we continue to provide outstanding care to all of the women and their families. I would like to thank each and every one in the team at Kingston for everything they are doing.”
Celebrating International Nurses Day 2020
12 May was a special day here at Kingston Hospital – International Nurses Day and the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
Watch a short film made by our senior nursing team to celebrate International Nurses Day 2020:
https://youtu.be/UAUujqiHYms
Fundraising News
Six-year-old fundraiser Dhillon reaches target for incubator
Six-year-old Dhillon Manku aimed to raise £21,000 for a new incubator at Kingston Hospital’s Neonatal Unit and has reached his target in just 18 months.
Dhillon who was born prematurely at Kingston Hospital in 2013 to parents Jas and Sharn, was cared for on the Neonatal Unit. When Dhillon was old enough to understand that he himself was born prematurely he decided he wanted to buy an incubator to look after other babies. He has now raised £21,000 to help Born Too Soon, a charity that has supported the Neonatal Unit at Kingston Hospital since 1985.
When lock-down was announced, Dhillon had approximately £5,000 left to raise. He knew he would have to find a different way to raise money during the pandemic, so he put his thinking cap on and decided to pitch an idea he had to the Kamani family who are the founders of ‘Pretty Little Thing’ and ‘Boohoo’ as he liked their colourful designs. Dhillon put a video pitch together and shared it with the Kamani family over Instagram. To his amazement he received a message from one of the owners, Aisha Kamani, praising Dhillon on his work. She then proceeded to tell Dhillon that they will donate the rest of the money he needed for the incubator, and true to their word he has reached his target of £21,000.
Dhillon’s fundraising efforts also included a sponsored swim, which he completed on his fifth birthday raising £5,000, a coffee morning at his local Starbucks and a golf day raising £700. He also carried out a ‘sponsored bounce’ at Oxygen Free Jumping trampoline park in 2019 which was attended by 50 children and raised a total of £4,500. Dhillon then took part in the Richmond Runfest where he raised £2,500, plus £3,500 from various sponsors and supporters that he has picked up along his fundraising journey – Metro Bank, Starbucks, Singing Dentist, DadvGirls, Peter Andre, Dr Ranj and Jay Sean to name a few.
Well done Dhillon, for your amazing efforts.
Former Kingston Hospital Non-Executive Director raises £12,000 for Kingston Hospital Charity
When former Richmond Council leader and former Kingston Hospital Non-Executive Director, Serge Lourie, returned home following treatment for COVID-19 at Kingston Hospital, he decided to take on a personal challenge to thank staff for his care.
Serge walked 2.6 miles around Kew, raising a total of £12,000 for Kingston Hospital Charity’s staff wellbeing appeal.
Speaking about the challenge, Serge said: “I was in hospital with COVID-19 for 10 days of which three were in Intensive Care. I just cannot say strongly enough how grateful I am to all the staff at Kingston Hospital and the paramedics who took me there by ambulance. I believe they saved my life. They were all completely wonderful and deserve all the praise they have been getting.”
“In order to give something back, I decided to take part in the 2.6 challenge and planned to walk 2.6 kilometres to raise money for Kingston Hospital Charity. As I was feeling quite strong on the day, I am happy to report that I managed to walk 2.6 miles.”
Interim Head of Kingston Hospital Charity, Rob Aldous said: “It was typical Serge that once he was back home and beginning to feel better, he wasted no time in thinking about how he could show his gratitude to the hospital staff who looked after him. We are delighted Serge has recovered from coronavirus and very grateful to him and all who generously supported his 2.6 challenge, helping to raise over £12,000 – a fantastic effort!”
Meet the governor: Richard Allen
Richard Allen has been lead governor at Kingston Hospital for the last four years and will complete his term this June. Richard was elected as a public governor, representing the Kingston community.
We spoke to Richard about his time as a governor.
Q. When were you elected as a governor?
I was elected a governor in autumn 2012, in readiness of the establishment of Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. I was then elected to be the first Lead Governor, but because of a pressing work commitment was unable to carry forward this opportunity. Subsequently I was then elected to the position in 2016.
Q. Why did you decide to be a governor at Kingston Hospital?
Kingston Hospital has mattered to me personally throughout my whole life. I was born in the maternity unit and in 1996 I had my life saved by the swift actions of a junior doctor.
Q. Do you live locally?
I live in Berrylands.
Q. How does your role as governor support the hospital, patients and members?
Governors are frequently a channel of information between the public, staff and the Trust management. The lead governor often has to pool the feedback from other governors, combining an array of thoughts, concerns, praise and opinions.
Q. What other involvement have you had in the local community?
In October, I will complete five years as Chairman of the Kingston branch of Diabetes UK. In May 2019 I also became the first Chairman of the national charity RALPHH, whose aims include providing defibrillation equipment at sporting locations – the first of these will be installed at Kingston Rowing Club later this summer. I am also a past Chairman of Kingston Victim Support.
Q. What do you think have been the biggest successes of the hospital over the past four years?
I believe we have seen improvements in the transparency of decisions being made, so now the public have extended means of finding out what is happening at their hospital. I am also pleased to have played a small part in helping improve service to patients with diabetes – we now have one of the best reputations in the country.
Q. What has been your highlight as lead governor?
No single highlight but I am pleased to have helped governors reach many collective majority views on various matters, increasing the influence and reputation of the Council of Governors.
Q. Would you recommend the role of governor to members of Kingston Hospital?
For those prepared to devote the necessary time, the role of a governor can be extremely rewarding and the Trust will always benefit from independent minded people who combine their own research with public accessibility.
The role of governor
With the support of our members, Kingston Hospital’s governors ensure our work is in keeping with our values, meeting the needs of our local residents and supporting all who use our services to make us successful.
Members can elect public and staff representatives to the Council of Governors so that their voice is heard. Members can also stand for election as public governors themselves, to represent their fellow members’ views on the Council of Governors.
Governor elections 2020
Nominations for this year’s governor elections open in September. Look out for further information in our next newsletter.
Patient feedback
John shares a message of thanks to our staff in the Intensive Care Unit, during his recovery from COVID-19:
Our first patient to be discharged from the Intensive Care Unit, having recovered from COVID-19, said: “I would like to thank all the staff involved in my care. I can’t express how comforting it was having someone hold my hand – you can’t put a price on that.”
We would love to hear your views
Are there are any particular areas you would like to hear more about in future bulletins? Please do let us know.
We would also love to hear your ideas for topics and themes for future talks or webinars for members. Send your comments and suggestions to us at
[email protected]
Keep in touch
Twitter - @KingstonHospNHS
Facebook - Kingston Hospital
Instagram - kingstonhospitaluk
From time to time, the Trust may send you some information about the work of the Kingston Hospital Charity, which helps to raise vital funds for the Trust. This may include its ‘Our News’ newsletter. If you would prefer not to receive information about our charity please contact the Communications Team on [email protected]
Subscribe Unsubscribe
|
