Testimonials
John Gash
I would like to draw your attention to the very excellent treatment I have received at the West Midlands Hospital through the Police Healthcare Scheme. I have been through a very, very hard year. In May 2009 it was found I had bowel cancer and on 30th June I underwent major surgery at the hospital. Treatment I received was absolutely first class, the attention was great with nothing too much trouble. The staff were all most helpful and very kind, they treated me more as a friend than a patient. I left after 10 days with an ileostomy and a bag fitted.
I then underwent six months of chemotherapy from September 09 to March 10 twice a week at Russells Hall Hospital through the NHS and having come through this I was admitted once more to the West Midlands Hospital for reversal of ileostomy on 27 April 2010. I was there for 10 days and once again the treatment was five star, I could not have been better looked after. I was so pleased with all that they did for me I gave a thank you card and donation to the staff fund on leaving. On arriving home I found a thank you letter from Gloria Kerrigan, the General Manager of West Midlands Hospital, waiting for me.
I have in the past been to the Nuffield Hospital in Wolverhampton and I can say that the West Midlands Hospital is much better.
For 20 years I was Chairman of the Dudley & District Branch of NARPO. I am now President. I have always recommended the Police Healthcare Scheme and now I know I was correct to do so. I have this week received two vouchers from the Benevolent Fund and I would like to express my thanks for these also.
Mr Selwyn Bowen
In March of this year I required tests for a suspected heart condition. These were carried out at the Priory Hospital, Birmingham and funded by the Police Healthcare Scheme. The tests proved I needed a quadruple bypass operation and again I was admitted to the Priory Hospital for the operation, again funded by our wonderful healthcare scheme. The operation was a success and I am on the road to recovery. Whether this would be the case had I had to go on the NHS waiting list, I don’t know.
I write this letter to congratulate you all on the speedy, very helpful and kind way I was treated by your staff and also your choice of hospitals the scheme uses. My treatment in the Priory was first-class and again, their staff were kindness itself and the treatment five-star.
Every January when the scheme contributions rise, like I suspect many members, myself included say “I cannot afford this any longer” and have a general moan about cost etc and consider withdrawing from the scheme. It is only when faced with a life threatening condition that realise you can afford it, you must afford it, for you never know what life is going to throw at you. It is a very, very good scheme, much respected by Doctors. Anyone joining the West Midlands Police must join the scheme. As I have already said, “you never know” it is worth it, believe me.
Paul and Sharon Evans
“Just a short note to say a big thank you to you and your colleagues for the help and advice given to us when making the arrangements for Jack's treatment.
The whole process was dealt with so quickly and efficeintly that it seemed no time at all from the first call to you at the Healthcare office to him having surgery and getting back on his feet.
Mr Singh has been wonderful - he has successfully repaired Jack's ligament and told him that after a course of physiotherapy he can start light training again.”
Mrs Valerie Conway
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the various staff members at Guardians House with whom we spoke in the course of making the somewhat hurried arrangements for this surgery. Your help and consideration at a stressful time exemplified exactly what the scheme was originally set up to achieve. I am pleased to report that I am recovering well from the operation and am at last free of the excruciating pain I had been enduring. Thank you for all your efforts.
My Husband was one of those who originally signed up for the scheme when it was suggested all those years ago and he believes that it was the most significant step that was ever taken for the welfare of Police Officers and their families.”
Neville Walker
“I have just received your update on the PHS and felt I must write on behalf of myself and my wife to express our gratitude for such a superb service the scheme provides. We also support the decision to go in the direction you have chosen. Recently, as we oldies do, we have been comparing notes with friends who have private health cover and they are always very envious of what our scheme provides. We have had to use it occasionally and when we have it has run as smooth as clockwork and saved us a lot of pain, suffering and anxiety.”
Gary Haynes
“I know its early days into my treatment, but I just wanted to drop you a line to say how impressed I am with the Police Healthcare Scheme during my first contact. I have recently suffered a back injury which requires some investigation to establish what is causing the pain and poor mobility. I made contact with the girls in the office who verbally authorised immediate physio treatment and an MRI scan. This treatment amounts to hundreds of pounds.
I haven’t had to fill in countless claim forms or even have my doctor refer me. I am currently on sick leave and just want to get back to work. Clearly the way the Police Healthcare Scheme operates is geared up to facilitate a speedy recovery rather than being bogged down with bureaucracy causing unnecessary delays and more importantly further pain and suffering. As a Staffordshire officer I was previously with BUPA. Not only would I have to gain the “correct” authorisation and have to wait for the paperwork to be processed but I am now paying 30% less per month.
I will be recommending this scheme to my Staffordshire colleagues.”
Boyd Kelly
“I recently underwent medical treatment courtesy of the Healthcare Scheme provided by yourselves.
Throughout the whole of my dealings with your colleagues I received speedy and efficient service and would be grateful if you would pass on my thanks to the people concerned. Unfortunately my efficiency does not match theirs and I have mislaid the names of the people concerned.”
Dean Caswell
“I am writing to you in relation to the Healthcare Scheme as I wanted to bring to your attention my experience with the scheme this week.
Day 1, Sunday 10th February 2008: my partner found a lump in her breast.
Day 2, Monday 11th February 2008: my partner visited her GP who confirmed that she had a lump.
Day 3, Tuesday 12th February 2008: in the morning I contacted the scheme by telephone who gave the go-ahead for contact with a choice of hospitals for initial consultation. I then contacted the Nuffield who put us in touch with a consultant. At 16.30hours that same day we attended the Nuffield where my partner was given an ultrasound scan and also a mammogram, the radiographer stated that he thought it was just a cyst and provided x-rays and a written report.
At 19.30hours that same day we attended the Priory Hospital where we saw a consultant who was an expert in dealing with breast related issues. The consultant had already spoken to the radiographer prior to our visit in relation to the x-ray results. The consultant took a sample from my partner and confirmed that she also thought that it was just a cyst.
Day 4, Wednesday 13th February 2008: we are expecting the sample results this evening to confirm that it is just a cyst, if so, that will be the end of the episode.
I just wanted to bring this absolutely fantastic service to your attention. We realise that there is an element of luck that the consultant was working the day that we phoned and that there was an appointment available, but none the less, we are still over the moon with the rapid response we have received, particularly as it is a very sensitive and worrying issue when breast lumps are found.
Thanks once again for the scheme, we are very grateful.”