Share review of Mr Vanash Patel

Mr Vanash Patel 2022-07-01 Person 5 5 0

Vanash has what can be described as a perfect "bedside manner" and the fact that I am using his first name is a testimony to this. Our first meeting, clearly not at the bedside, was in September last year (2021) when he explained to me how he was going to deal with the tumor I was diagnosed with (adenocarcinoma of the upper rectum). He made it clear that it was a serious operation but in a manner that was confident of success. Watford General does have a "could improve" status for surgery and Vanash, to his credit, acknowledged that and also pointed out that colorectal surgery had pretty good outcomes. And he was right. Everything went pretty well exactly as he said. I had a temporary ileostomy, which was reversed recently and I am now fully recovered. There are a couple of reasons why I gave Vanash the 5 star rating. I already mentioned his bedside manner, which was exemplary, caring and attentive. Unfortunately, during my 2 stays in the hospital, I had witnessed some other consultants who were very fond of hearing their own voice. The nursing staff in Flaunden A were absolutely wonderful. I certainly received "great care" and also felt, dare I say it, love. It was a very enriching experience. I also think that he managed to organise a team of specialist nurses, stoma care nurses (Paula Williams-Bowen was looking after me), enhanced recovery nurse Laura Bryant, and colorectal nurse Deborah Sumner) that functions smoothly and communicates clearly both pre and post op. It is a good example of how NHS should be. Together with the ward staff it is a haven of efficiency in the general administrative chaos that seems to permeate the NHS. My experience of adjuvant chemotherapy, which followed my op was an example of that. Vanash cares for his patients and therefore has the right to demand that his co-workers do the same and of course they respond to his example. I felt safe in their care.