Apologies for a more personal piece – we’ll be back to the politics and international relations soon (and there is a bit of policy in this one at the end I promise). But this week is a big anniversary for me. It will be a year since I went into hospital for a serious, but routine, operation and ended up a few hours, and a brilliant surgery team, away from dying. A year on feels like a good moment to look back and think about what I learned from the experience and how it changed me (and didn’t).
I came for the wisdom on Ukraine, but appreciate this piece of writing at least as much. The anecdote about the difficulty of convincing the frontline staff to spend a little money to improve their own efficiency is priceless.
No need for the opening apology. A revealing and enjoyable read as always. The personal lesson about the person being more important than the position is especially useful to be reminded of.
Glad you’re a year on and able to have these reflections :) I’ve had a couple of staring down the barrel medical moments, and was shocked how quickly the feeling of “I’ve survived, therefore I should change my life in some meaningful way” melted away and life reverted to the everyday norm. So glad it’s all worked out well for you.
After a week on a cardiac ward last October so much of this resonates with me. Lack of equipment, and also in my ward with all staff masked becoming a deliverer of information to the deaf lady who could only lip read. The staff were superb, but the lack of equipment seriously hampered outcomes.
Hi Sam, it would be interesting (to me anyway) what your close and wider family members thought about your resistance to undergoing the op and help examine their subsequent thoughts post op as to whether there are any lessons for all of (within a family dynamic) to possibly accept help better, help and support each other better as one faces different medical processes ( or even approach aspects of ageing) - to improve an understanding of different situations and different points in our lives. How to listen to each other, and react better, that kind of thing. Lovely to hear you’re mending.
Thank you for your story. I respect your path towards healing. Bravo to you for taking your experience into the Trusts to improve patient care. That is courage.
Thank you Sam. Some very honest reflections and insights. I’ve really enjoyed catching up with your twitter posts over the last year or two. Keep going. And go well.
Wow. That's quite a journey. Very good and heartfelt insights into your experience. You put into words what I (and I'm sure many others) have felt. As you have so clearly expressed, there are a number of feelings and fears that we experience when going through near-death medical interventions, from thoughts of family to frustrations with the health care system. In my case it was in the US, and for all our boasting our system too has significant flaws. Fortunately I was in the care of an excellent, if sometimes odd, heart surgeon, and the final result has been...pretty good. I'm still standing at any rate.
What was nice about your article was hearing about all these aspects of your experience. I know it must not have been easy for you and your family, and I know how hard the recovery must have been, not just from the physical, but from the mental as well, when you finally realize that the worst is past and the healing can now commence.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. it is very meaningful and helpful. I wish you and everyone else who has to go through life threatening medical situations the very best.
I’ve been following your story since you first mentioned it last year which led me to follow your father too even more than I would have done , the reflections as a result of this health emergency are useful all around , thoughtful and optimistic and v welcome , expecting you to keep it all up
Thank you for your honest and revealing account. The very best of health for the future.
Very interesting read. Thank you.
Thanks for this article. It is so well considered and written, as ever. As a doctor in the NHS, you speak a lot of sense.
I came for the wisdom on Ukraine, but appreciate this piece of writing at least as much. The anecdote about the difficulty of convincing the frontline staff to spend a little money to improve their own efficiency is priceless.
No need for the opening apology. A revealing and enjoyable read as always. The personal lesson about the person being more important than the position is especially useful to be reminded of.
Sam, I wish you ever increasing good health, time well spent with family, and a continuous sense of purpose. Be well.
Glad you’re a year on and able to have these reflections :) I’ve had a couple of staring down the barrel medical moments, and was shocked how quickly the feeling of “I’ve survived, therefore I should change my life in some meaningful way” melted away and life reverted to the everyday norm. So glad it’s all worked out well for you.
After a week on a cardiac ward last October so much of this resonates with me. Lack of equipment, and also in my ward with all staff masked becoming a deliverer of information to the deaf lady who could only lip read. The staff were superb, but the lack of equipment seriously hampered outcomes.
Found it difficult reading the first part but found your analysis of your experience and the NHS very interesting.
Good to know you are now involved.
One observation. Not sure there is a FTSE500 index.
Hi Sam, it would be interesting (to me anyway) what your close and wider family members thought about your resistance to undergoing the op and help examine their subsequent thoughts post op as to whether there are any lessons for all of (within a family dynamic) to possibly accept help better, help and support each other better as one faces different medical processes ( or even approach aspects of ageing) - to improve an understanding of different situations and different points in our lives. How to listen to each other, and react better, that kind of thing. Lovely to hear you’re mending.
Thank you for your story. I respect your path towards healing. Bravo to you for taking your experience into the Trusts to improve patient care. That is courage.
From my experience in health policy (15 years), your analysis of the problems in hospitals is spot-on.
A brilliant piece Sam and thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you Sam. Some very honest reflections and insights. I’ve really enjoyed catching up with your twitter posts over the last year or two. Keep going. And go well.
Wow. That's quite a journey. Very good and heartfelt insights into your experience. You put into words what I (and I'm sure many others) have felt. As you have so clearly expressed, there are a number of feelings and fears that we experience when going through near-death medical interventions, from thoughts of family to frustrations with the health care system. In my case it was in the US, and for all our boasting our system too has significant flaws. Fortunately I was in the care of an excellent, if sometimes odd, heart surgeon, and the final result has been...pretty good. I'm still standing at any rate.
What was nice about your article was hearing about all these aspects of your experience. I know it must not have been easy for you and your family, and I know how hard the recovery must have been, not just from the physical, but from the mental as well, when you finally realize that the worst is past and the healing can now commence.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. it is very meaningful and helpful. I wish you and everyone else who has to go through life threatening medical situations the very best.
I’ve been following your story since you first mentioned it last year which led me to follow your father too even more than I would have done , the reflections as a result of this health emergency are useful all around , thoughtful and optimistic and v welcome , expecting you to keep it all up