"Dedicated team on Dickson 3 South, Prince of Wales"

I was transferred from Sutherland Hospital having been diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease and admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital (POW) under the Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Hugh for bypass surgery.

For me, it was like being an actor and going from a theatre in one town and doing a show in another. All seemed to be on track for the spotlights to be lit, I, having been shaved, prepped and ready for the curtain to go up. Cut! Cut! The show's postponed due to pre-op investigations. Investigations which reveal occlusions/blockages to the left and right internal carotid arteries.

Those with a little theatre knowledge will understand that these are like the wings on either side of the stage and, you wouldn't want those collapsing during a performance, would you? Moving on, these occlusions appear to create some problems such as possible plaque displacement during surgery which could cause a stroke, or worse. Just like the stage wings collapsing.  Wouldn't want that on opening night, would we?    

And so it came to pass that not one team was required to get this show on the road but two ... ah well then ... the more the merrier.

The teams consisted of Vascular, headed by Vascular Surgeon Dr. Ramon.

I believe this team would work in conjunction with the Cardiovascular team headed by Dr. Hugh which included a Dr. Joy who kindly took time out to explain to me that there would be two operations and what roles the two separate operations play, in particular, the platform role so to speak of stenting by the vascular team for the Cardio team to later work on during act two.  Well, at least they are agreeing so far on the set design.   

Several days after my admission, I was, at long last, trundled off to theatre for act one of this two-act procedure - the angioplasty of the subclavian artery and insertion of a stent to facilitate the grafting which was scheduled for five days later. The very obliging Cardiac Anaesthetist (Michael from memory) asked, like he was reading from a hotel cocktail bar menu, if I  would like to be put to sleep or, better still, to take his advice and have just enough happy juice to keep me calm. I took his advice and opted for the latter thus discovering most of what happened backstage after the patient had been put to sleep. This I would highly recommend. Totally painless. Top marks to Dr. Ramon and his team who, in my twilight state, performed like a well-rehearsed Corp d'Ballet.

Right on schedule five days later and it's time for act two and as the curtain goes up, I think to myself, " I may not wake up from this " and suddenly for me, the lights dim then ever so slowly go out.

The minimally invasive (lateral left entry between ribs) coronary artery bypass graft operation was successfully performed by Dr. Hugh and his amazing cardiothoracic team albeit, encores declined. 

The next day I'm back in bed in my ward.

Undoubtedly many hours of hard work and choreographing by both the Vascular and the Cardiothoracic teams were undertaken, not only to make this show a success but also to keep it very much alive. For this, I am most grateful.

My gratitude also goes to the hard-working nursing team and their hands-on Nursing Unit Manager, Meg. I recall saying to one of the nurses one night how dedicated and hands-on Meg appeared to be, the nurse's response being " we love our boss, that is why we are a great team".  

A special thank you to Jenny, you know what I had to contend with. Also Di, yes my love, you even watched over me at the nurses' station, noting I was in A.F. Bless you both.

Trust me when I say that I have spent a fair amount of time in hospital over the past eighty years and never have I come across such a happy, disciplined and dedicated team like that on Dickson 3 South, POW. You should be well proud.