AN OXFORD grandfather has thanked hospital staff for saving his life after a scan for an unrelated condition found he was at risk of ‘dropping down dead’ at any second.

Doctors at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital were forced to carry out an emergency procedure on Nigel Whalley, 80, when a prostate scan last Thursday revealed a problem with his bladder, which in turn meant his only kidney was in danger of completely shutting down.

Now recovering at his north Oxford home, Mr Whalley said he is still reeling from thoughts of what might have been but wants to publicly thank the hospital staff for going‘above and beyond’.

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The grandfather of nine, who due to a previous medical condition has lived with one kidney for the last 40 years, said: “They did the scan and the radiographer said he was concerned and he wouldn’t let me leave until he’d raised it with his superiors - he was adamant about that.

“If I hadn’t gone for that scan they wouldn’t have picked it up and in my mind it was only the radiographer’s concern about me having one kidney that saved me.

“I want to thank them for what they did as you often don’t hear about the good news stories.

“The radiographer came up to see how I was doing afterwards. He came up as a visitor instead of going straight home when his shift was finished.

“He didn’t have to do that. It meant a lot to me and it just shows that these staff really do care about their patients.”

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Mr Whalley was booked in for two scans after his GP raised concerns about his prostate and a suspected hernia.

Oxford Mail:

However, the scan actually revealed a swelling to his prostate which was pressing on his bladder - preventing it from emptying properly.

This in turn was putting a considerable strain on his remaining kidney which, doctors said could have led to fatal kidney failure at any time.

The news came like a hammer blow, said Mr Whalley who expecting to be allowed home following the routine scan.

Instead doctors acted quickly and drained off a total of four litres of fluid from his bladder that day - he now relies on a colostomy bag.

However, despite the life changing events of last Thursday, he says he is just grateful to be here, and will be forever thankful to the hospital staff.

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He said: "They told me I could have walked out of there and collapsed at any moment.

“The doctors said the chances of my kidney shutting down had increased, and if it did collapse I would have to be brought back by ambulance.

“If I made it I’d be on dialysis for the rest of my life - if I didn’t make it I’d be dead.

“I can’t talk about it now without getting upset.

“I’m still in a bit of shock about it all.

“I’m not happy with the results but it could have been a lot worse if they hadn’t picked up the problem with my bladder and my kidney.

“I may not have known anything about it until it was too late.”