Jamie said: “Three months on I am virtually 100 per cent, and I am back to walking the dogs without pain and the best bit, playing golf and reducing my handicap – yes!
“When I found out the operation would be done as a day case and I would be home by teatime it was great. Ahead of the surgery I met all the fantastic teams involved, including Rahij Anwar, the surgeon.
“On the day I was quickly booked in at reception and taken to a private room to get ready – the team were really helpful, putting me at ease as I was nervous. I went down to surgery at around 9am, and after two hours in the operating theatre, I was sitting in recovery with a cup of tea.
“I was then moved to the Sunderland Day Care Centre, where the team did an amazing job looking after me and making us feel at ease. I had many visits from various members of Mr Anwar’s team, each of them giving me advice on my recovery and generally checking that I was ok after the procedure, before I left just after 5pm for home.
“The first week was difficult, but getting on top of the pain relief was key. Once we cracked that with the help of staff, I was on the road to recovery. I was walking almost immediately, tackling the stairs and bending without too much pain. After three weeks, I was starting to become a changed man and getting back to my old self.
“Mr Anwar’s team monitored me remotely throughout, which included video calls and home visits – all the team were so kind, caring and considerate.
“I cannot express how grateful I am to Mr Anwar and staff at hospital. They have without doubt given me my life back and I will be forever grateful.”
Rahij Anwar, Locum Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Medway NHS Foundation Trust (pictured) said: “The service is progressing very well and we are routinely seeing patients like Jamie for day case joint replacement surgery. We have plans to expand this for other operations, which will help to free up a further beds and improve productivity across the hospital.
“It’s clear that where suitable, day case joint replacement gives patients control over their surgery and allows them to complete their recovery in the comfort of their own home.
“This is truly a team effort and would not be possible without the great efforts of colleagues from our virtual ward, theatres, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, pre-assessment and many others.”
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