Patient praises hospital team that saved his life

Photo: Picture: VINCENT BROWN

Members of the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital, with ward sister Julie Silverwood (front, centre)

A GRATEFUL grandfather is thanking the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital for the life-saving care he received by nominating them for a Pride in Oldham award.

David Tomaszewski (51), from Denbydale Way, Royton, nominated the unit for saving his life when he was struck down with pneumonia in December, 2006.

After collapsing in his home, he spent a month in ICU on life support followed by a further two months recovering at the hospital.

He was so ill that on two occasions, the hospital feared he would not survive the night. But thanks to their care and professionalism, Mr Tomaszewski made a full recovery.

As he never had the chance to personally thank the team for saving his life, he feels a Pride in Oldham nomination is the best way to say “thank you” to both the staff who cared for him and those currently helping others in the same way.

He said: “Almost three years ago, I’d been complaining to my wife Julie of shortness of breath for a few days when I collapsed coming down the stairs. That is the last I knew of anything because six weeks later I woke up in hospital.

“Julie said I’d been in a bad way and the hospital had asked her twice to come in because they feared I would not make it.

“But they fought to keep me alive, they did absolutely everything. The care they gave me was absolutely superb.

“I should imagine there are others in my position who never had the chance to thank the staff for the work they do. I’ll be grateful to them for the rest of my life.”

This is the second time the ICU team have been put forward for an award, following a nomination in 2004.

Julie Silverwood, ward sister, has worked for 32 years on the unit which has 40 members of staff.

She said: “We are just doing our job and don’t do anything extra for different patients.

“Nominations tend to mean a lot more to patients because it is their life that we’ve saved.

“But it is very nice that these things are said about the team.”