Our Patients

We have some truly remarkable patients – read their stories below: 

Jaskiran Madahar (left) who was reunited with Dr Abdul Maher at the NHS 70 tea party in July.

Birmingham teacher Jaskiran Madahar was treated at City Hospital when he suffered four cardiac arrests on one day.
The 36-year-old was brought back to life by medics on Friday the 13^th.  
He has been fitted with a ‘guardian angel’ implant in his heart, which will shock his heart back into action if it stops again in the future.  “Some would say Friday the 13th is a day of bad luck,” said Jaskiran.“I just feel incredibly lucky to be alive after my heart stopped on four separate occasions.”
Tests revealed that Jaskiran suffers from rare Long QT Syndrome, a disorder of the heart’s electrical activity which can cause sudden, uncontrollable, dangerous arrhythmias, sometimes in response to exercise or stress.  He is now on the road to recovery after having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator – ICD for short – fitted by Dr Abdul Maher.

(Left to right) Dr Arvind Rajasekaran, Patricia and Michael Willis, and Anne Findlay, Respiratory Specialist Nurse.

Great grandad Michael Willis was in desperate need of a double lung transplant after he was diagnosed with the rare condition sarcoidosis. He was given just months to  live – unless doctors could find a suitable donor.
Consultant respiratory physician Dr Arvind Rajasekaran, based at City Hospital, was determined to save his patient, and so contacted the Royal Papworth Hospital, in Cambridge, in the hope they would assist in finding a donor, and carrying out the operation.
Within two months a suitable donor was found and Michael underwent the operation in June last year.
Michael, aged 60, said: “I feel extremely grateful to the person who donated their lungs to me. Like my wife said, someone had to go so I can be here. It was a miracle for me and my family.
“I am very thankful to all the doctors and nurses at City Hospital and the Royal Papworth Hospital. They were excellent and very caring. I felt like I received first class healthcare treatment. I also want to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to Dr Rajasekaran. He went beyond the duty to care for me and support my whole family. From the very beginning, he was always there for us. He took his time to explain to me and my family about my condition and the treatment. He also helped us to arrange everything for me at home. He put us at ease and we felt extremely confident that I would get better eventually. He never once mentioned the word ‘dying’ to us, and we all felt that he gave us hope and by working together, we could overcome this great challenge and we actually did.”

Working with the Red Cross. (l-r) Kate Rowley, Paul Bennett, trainee advanced nurse practitioner, patient Graham Harrison, and Red Cross support worker, Pauline Nettleford

Patient Graham Harrison became one of the first to benefit from a unique collaboration between the British Red Cross and our Trust. After suffering a stroke, Mr Harrison, a former karate instructor, was visited by Red Cross support worker Pauline Nettleford, who offered him a befriending service, as well as carrying out essential errands such as shopping and collecting prescriptions. The initiative helps those who are at risk of being readmitted to hospital and it ensures that people can often remain in their own homes. Graham hailed the service as a “brilliant idea”.  He added: “It’s been an absolutely fantastic service. When I came out of hospital, I couldn’t do anything. I had a lot of help from the nurses and physiotherapists, but also from Pauline too. She has assisted me in many ways. Ways that have surprised me. She’s offered to go shopping for me, accompany me to hospital appointments, take my dog for a walk – and even take me for a walk.
“She’ll come over and sit and chat to me but do things, like make me a drink or help with light housework.
“Since I was discharged, I have come on leaps and bounds. Just a few days ago I was slurring my words and talking out the side of my mouth. And I struggled with getting around. But now I am talking properly and can move around the house.”
He added: “I think the partnership is a brilliant idea. It’s been great for me and other people who are a lot worse off than I am.”

Freddie Smith, aged two, who loved meeting the ponies.

Patient Hyacinth Brown takes one of the ponies for a walk.

The mum of a two-year-old patient has praised our pet therapy programme which saw two miniature Shetland ponies visit Sandwell Hospital.
Lilly and Fern were brought along to the site by the Phoenix Children’s Foundation, based in Leicestershire, and they were petted and fed by youngsters being treated by the paediatric team as well as stroke patients.The visit was funded by Your Trust Charity which is run by the Trust. Claire Mcquoid, 38, was with her son Freddie, aged two, who is being treated at the hospital. She said: “We’ve learned with Freddie that he’s very delayed with his speech due to being born prematurely and suffering meningitis at a young age.
“However, he shows animals a lot of emotion and affection. Seeing the horses today has put a big smile on his face and he is really excited. He loves to interact with animals all the time and it helps with his progression.” Arron Chohan, aged 11, from Tividale, had been at the hospital for a physiotherapy appointment and was left overwhelmed by his close encounter with Lilly and Fern. He said: “They are really beautiful and their fur is soft. We heard there were ponies here, but I thought someone one joking. It’s really cool and I’ve enjoyed meeting them today. It’s a great idea.” His mum Gurvinder added: “It’s a nice distraction for children and for them to experience something like this when they are coming into hospital. It puts them at ease. Arron isn’t afraid of animals and he is happy to interact with them.”

Watch what some of our patients had to say about their treatment at our Trust below: 

There are many ways that as a patient or visitor you are able to share your experience.We are happy to receive feedback about the care you have received.

This can be given directly through this website, or by using the NHS Website (formerly NHS Choices). You can find out more about the different ways to give feedback here. 

If you are an inpatient, you or a loved one can also use our Purple Point phones, which are situated outside every ward area. Click here to read more about this initiative.