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A Banbury dad’s terrifying COVID experience
03/03/2021
“The words that were said to me were ‘the next few days are going to be critical’”
A Banbury dad who missed his son’s first birthday while he was in the Horton General Hospital being treated for COVID-19, has praised the “excellent” care he received. Father of three Rob Hutt, 38, was admitted to the Horton at the end of January after experiencing breathlessness and low oxygen levels. He also had a fever, headaches, diarrhoea, muscle ache, extreme fatigue, nausea, and a cough.
Mr Hutt told us his family realised they could no longer care for him at home when he started struggling to breathe. He said: “It’s very rare in your life that you experience the feeling of not being able to draw in as much air and oxygen to operate normally as a human being.
“I was on oxygen in the ambulance straight away.”
At the Horton General Mr Hutt was assessed by the medical staff. He said: “A doctor would come in and tell you what course of medication and what care you would be receiving. Then they talk about what could happen next, but the unfortunate thing is they don’t really know. The words that were said to me were ‘the next few days are going to be critical’. I asked what that meant and you go on to talking about survival rates.”
Mr Hutt described lying in his hospital bed realising he could do nothing to control his situation –something he described as “terrifying”.
In the ward, without visitors and away from your family Mr Hutt acknowledged the huge part hospital staff played in helping patients feel less isolated. He said: “In terms of the care staff, the cleaners and the housekeeping staff and the doctors – everyone was incredible. But the fact is it is a very strange environment – like you’ve been sucked out of your reality.
“I think that everyone who works in the hospital knows that [isolation] is a risk and they do absolutely everything to make sure you don’t feel like that. They know its about conversations and trying to answer any questions you have; they know its about checking in with you regularly.”
After five days in hospital, Mr Hutt was discharged. Today he still has slight breathlessness and on-going fatigue as he continues his recovery.
Mr Hutt said: “The care I received was excellent and exactly what I needed. Obviously I needed immediate treatment, but what I didn’t know I needed that I received in abundance was emotional support, physical care, and constant words of encouragement from the nurses, care staff, and housekeepers.
“They were all so kind, compassionate, and supportive, and treated me like a human being – and not just another patient.
“It’s difficult to express my gratitude, but thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those involved in my care for being there when I needed you most. While I was away from my family I felt like all the staff pulled together around me and become the support network that my own family would have normally provided.”
Professor Meghana Pandit, Chief Medical Officer at Oxford University Hospitals, said: “We are so pleased that Rob is able to continue his recovery back home, and that he can look forward to a bright future with his family.
“The response from staff at the Horton General Hospital, as well as those based on other sites across the Trust, has been inspiring during the pandemic, and I’d like to thank them for their hard work during the latest wave of the pandemic, as well as over the last 12 months.
“Stories like Rob’s demonstrate what a positive effect their level of compassionate care has on our patients.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam