They’re transforming the lives of diabetics

LOSING his bus driver’s licence after almost 40 years of service seemed like the end of the world for William Brown.

The 60-year-old was deemed unfit for work in July 2012 after medics found his diabetes had got “out of control”.

But thanks to the care of Dr Garry Tan, Mr Brown returned to work 14 months later and nominated the Oxford diabetic consultant for the Hospital Heroes award.

After learning Dr Tan had now been shortlisted as a finalist, Mr Brown, who lives in Kennington, said: “I feel delighted for Dr Tan because I believe he deserves some recognition.

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“When I lost my licence, to me it was the end of the world. I think my body was just ready to shut down because I had given up.”

Mr Brown was diagnosed with diabetes 30 years ago but he began feeling increasingly tired about four years ago.

Bus driver William Brown nominated Dr Garry Tan for the Hospital Heroes award     

As a long-haul driver for National Express, he struggled to get through the day, having little energy to complete daily journeys from Glasgow to London.

Despite being transferred to shorter routes, Mr Brown still felt lethargic.

And with no family or friends around him, he decided to apply for sheltered accommodation for extra support.

But the only immediate vacancy was in Oxford and he moved from his Bath home three years ago, before taking up a new job as a Stagecoach bus driver on its 1 service between Oxford and Blackbird Leys.

Mr Brown said that after the move he continued to feel tired. He also noticed he was passing urine frequently and feeling weak.

In July 2012, he was told he would not work as a bus driver again after his GP discovered his blood pressure was high and signed him off work.

Mr Brown said: “When I first got ill that was scary, knowing I was on my own.”

Four months later, he was given an appointment at the Churchill Hospital’s Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, where he met Dr Tan.

But Mr Brown said he did not expect much after having little success with medics previously.

He added: “They tried to give me help and support but I would not have it because I felt like they were talking to me like I was a child but Dr Tan does not.”

Mr Brown said his life has been transformed by Dr Tan, whose ongoing care and support, with advice on how to manage his condition, has helped his blood pressure and blood sugar levels stabilise.

Manchester-native Mr Brown said: “From the minute I walked in to see Dr Tan, I knew he was going to be my saviour.

“He talks to you with respect, he explains everything.

“I think he is the greatest man that walks the streets of Oxford. To me, he is Captain Marvel.

“I think he is a credit to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.”

Mr Brown said he was “ecstatic” when he was able to return to work in September 2013, crediting Dr Tan as the reason.

Dr Tan said: “I’m moved, I’m quite humbled.

“I’m a small part of a bigger team but that team is part of a wider organisation that really impacts on people’s lives.

“I feel like I do not deserve it because I feel it’s not just me, everyone contributed. You try and touch people’s lives in a good way every day. It’s really quite touching to have some recognition of the extra mile everyone in the team goes to.”

Team award

FOR grandmother Audrey Woodcock, having two Oxford medics by her side has helped her live with a rare form of diabetes.

The teaching assistant, from Headington, discovered she was suffering with Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) about 10 years ago.

She credits Dr Katharine Owen and specialist nurse Amanda Webster for putting her at ease throughout her ordeal, and decided to nominate the pair for the Hospital Heroes award.

Audrey Woodcock, right, has nominated consultant Katharine Owen, left, and specialist nurse Amanda Webster, who work at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism                                         

Mother-of-two and grandmother-of-three Mrs Woodcock said: “They are always very supportive. I just know that if I need help, they are there. I think I can talk to them and phone them up if I have any problems. 

“Between the three of us, we have become quite friendly.”

Mrs Woodcock was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes about 20 years ago and visited the Churchill Hospital’s Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM) for regular check-ups.

She first discovered she was suffering with MODY after volunteering to take part in a clinical trial at the centre.

“A blood test showed she had the rare inherited condition, which is caused by a mutation in a single gene and only affects one to two per cent of people with diabetes.

She said that since then she has been seen by the pair during each visit to the Headington centre. Staff work with the patients to make sure diabetics are on the right medication or treatment plan.

Mrs Woodcock, who works at The Isis Academy, added: “I just think they work really well together. I’m fortunate, and I think it makes a huge difference knowing the same people when you go to the clinic.

“I’m sure that if other people had the same experience, they would be able to look after themselves better. It’s certainly made me understand my diabetes better, seeing the same people.”

Mrs Woodcock said it was also important for her to nominate the pair to raise awareness of the condition and the work they do for sufferers.

Mrs Woodcock added: “Diabetes is a thing we hear more and more of and I just think it makes a huge difference if people are aware of it.

Dr Owen, an Oxford University researcher and consultant physician,  said: “We were really surprised and really honoured to have been nominated. I think in a way just to be nominated, that’s what’s important.

“For me being nominated is just a reflection of the service we offer in OCDEM.

“I feel it’s really important to me to have contact with patients as part of my work. 

“Over the years I have formed a good relationship with patients I have been seeing for a while, which Audrey is one of.”

WHAT IS DIABETES?

• THERE are two main forms of diabetes – type 1 and type 2
• About nine in 10 cases are known as type 2, where the body does not produce enough insulin or the body’s cells do not react to insulin
• Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, that controls the amount of sugar in the blood
• When food enters the bloodstream after being digested, insulin takes glucose out and puts it into cells which later produce energy
• But diabetics are unable to break down the glucose
• Type 2 sufferers usually control symptoms by eating more healthily, monitoring their blood glucose level and, if their condition worsens, taking tablets
• In type 1, the body’s immune system destroys cells that produce insulin, meaning glucose levels increase and lead to a risk of damaging blood vessels, nerves and organs
• The condition is mostly thought to be genetic and usually develops before the age of 40, often during teenage years. Sufferers take insulin injections for the rest of their lives.

TOUGH TASK SELECTING WINNERS

• THE Hospital Heroes awards were launched last year when the Oxford Mail joined forces with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the NHS
• The trust runs Oxford’s John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals, as well as the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Banbury’s Horton General
• Deserving nominations have been received within the two categories, the Hospital Heroes Team award and the Hospital Heroes Individual award
• Now Oxford Mail Editor Simon O’Neill, along with trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael, will have the difficult task of selecting the winners from the 10 shortlisted
• entries
• Winners will be revealed on Wednesday during the trust’s annual staff awards evening

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