Cancer patient presents award to Great Western Hospital

The award was presented by Mr Brown on behalf of charity Myeloma UK

A father-of-three has praised the hospital where he was nursed back to health following a myeloma diagnosis.

Tim Brown, 64, from Marlborough, was diagnosed with the blood cancer at Great Western Hospital in Swindon in February 2022.

Mr Brown presented the haematology team at the hospital with the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme (CSEP) Award on 7 November.

Mr Brown said he feels "lucky to be treated by such wonderful people".

"The team have all been magnificent," he said.

"The consultations are fun, we joke, there's some banter. There are no surprises about what's going to happen or what might happen.

"Everybody there is like that. I consider it a great privilege to be in their care."

Mr Brown underwent several misdiagnoses before his health severely declined and he went to the Great Western Hospital, where he was diagnosed with the myeloma.

Tim Brown, left, presented the award to Dr John Griffith, right, on 7 November.

Myeloma originates in the bone marrow and is incurable, but with the correct treatment patients can live for many years. The condition currently affects more than 24,000 people in the UK.

It is especially hard to spot as the symptoms are often vague and dismissed as ageing or other minor conditions.

By the time the cancer was caught Mr Brown had holes, known as lesions, in his chest and suffered damage to his kidneys.

He has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy and has attributed his recovery to the haematology team at Great Western Hospital.

Mr Brown said he is looking forward to playing sports again

He said: "I know they're there for me and that, if I need anything - a physio or a nutritionist for advice - they'd be on the other end of the phone.

"I'm now very positive, my energy levels are increasing and I'm determined to get back playing sports. Onwards and upwards!"

The CSEP Award is granted by the charity Myeloma UK and recognises hospitals' commitment to raising the bar for treatment and providing compassionate care.

Haematology consultant at the Great Western Hospital Dr John Griffith said the award "reflects our determination to address the needs of the patient, and their loved ones, throughout their journey".

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