Pharmacist gets taste of her own medicine on long road to recovery
Feeling a bit sorry for yourself? We could all take inspiration from retired pharmacist Geeta Mistry who remains positive, despite facing numerous challenges since she unexpectantly fell ill 16 months ago.
Geeta was more used to dispensing medication than taking it during her 40-year career as a pharmacist.
So, it was with some surprise that the 65-year-old found herself a patient in Northwick Park having spent the last 33 years of her career working there.
She first noticed how weak one of her legs felt while taking a patient's history and was subsequently admitted to hospital to rule out the possibility of a minor stroke.
Medics diagnosed inflammation of the spinal cord triggering a succession of problems that eventually leading to her admission to Stanmore National Orthopaedic Hospital a year later.
You can take the pharmacist out of the pharmacy but it seems you can't take the pharmacy out of the pharmacist and Geeta meticulously took note of the medications and dosage she was given.
“I couldn't help myself really. It's hard to switch off the habit of a lifetime even if I was a patient! It is bittersweet that I had to retire prematurely on the grounds of ill-health but I am determined to get back to my old self.”
NHS staff are obviously a hardy breed because Geeta's positive attitude comes despite a host of complications and setbacks that would make most of us despair.
Geeta added: “I had a spinal infection, stroke, incontinence, a urinary tract infection and have been wheelchair bound and ws surprisingly diagnosed with TB during a routine scan which meant even more drugs.
“I've been treated at Northwick Park, Moorfields, ULCH and Stanmore National Orthopaedic so have had a proper taste of the NHS from a patient perspective.
“The care has generally been excellent and my three-week stay as an inpatient at Stanmore was nothing short of sensational thanks to my daughter, who is also a pharmacist, tirelessly pushing for an admission slot.
“My consultant, the nurses and therapy team were all driving forces in providing new opportunities such as hydrotherapy, daily one-to-one physiotherapy sessions as well as a chance to explore virtual reality and interact with other spinal cord injury patients.
“It was probably the most rewarding and humbling part of my health journey, and I will be forever grateful for such a fantastic service that the NHS arranged so close to my home.”