A Message of Thanks from the Hon. Treasurer

I would like to give thanks to humanity and in particular the Neuro Trauma team at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, for saving my life.

On the morning of Monday 27th May my wife discovered me unconscious on the bathroom floor. The emergency services took me down to Leicester A&E where a brain scan showed that blood had been leaking from a vein into my right cranium, putting pressure on the brain.

The scan was sent through to the Neuro Trauma team at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham who said they needed to operate urgently. I was rushed to Nottingham and on Monday night operated on to remove the blood causing the problems and seal the vein. 

I regained consciousness Tuesday morning with all my faculties (as far as I can tell). The surgeons assure me that I should be back to normal in a month or two.

Without the human endeavour of millions of people that develop and support our communication and transport systems and in particular the ability to scan the brain, my treatment would not have been possible.

The team at Queens Medical Centre were of all nationalities, ethnicities, classes, religions and beliefs and are an outstanding example (as is the NHS) of what humanity can achieve when we work together for the common good. They were all very kind and helpful during my time with them.

While the surgeons are dependent on their team to carry out their work, I would particularly like to thank them for having put in years of study and research that enabled them to save my life.

John Catt

(This is a letter I have sent to the local papers).