'I have no plans to retire': Portsmouth lollipop man returns to beloved job after struggling to walk with huge hernia
A lollipop man, who could barely walk because of a huge hernia, is back at work - and he has praised a healthcare team.
Derek Toms has been helping locals cross the busy Milton Road for the past ten years - but when he started struggling to walk, he knew he needed medical help.
The 78-year-old had been suffering with a hernia for four years but it had increased in size, so much so that it was having a detrimental impact on Derek’s mobility. He said that he would often ‘crease up in pain’ because of the hernia.
He had previously been put off going to see his GP about his hernia because of the lengthy wait times that he was expecting to face. Thankfully, after seeing his doctor, who was shocked at the size of the hernia, he was referred on the NHS to Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre in St Mary’s.
Derek said: “I’m so glad that I went to see my GP in the end. When he saw the hernia he commented on how big it was and referred me for surgery immediately.
“I was quite lucky as I was referred on the NHS to Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre in St Mary’s close to where I work and was assured they had shorter waiting times than most hospitals locally.
“The consultant then discovered that I had a bit of an irregular heartbeat which prevented immediate surgery, so I was put on some medication for a couple of months. Had I not had this medical issue I would have been operated on within a few weeks there. When my heart issue was under control I was able to have the surgery I needed.”
As an NHS patient in England people have a legal right to choose where to have their treatment. This includes private hospitals that welcome NHS patients, such as Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s, Portsmouth.
Derek added: “I’m so glad to be back at work and pain-free. I love working and really enjoy my job. It gets me out twice a day for an hour and I have no plans to retire.
“Everything was great with the surgery at my local Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre and I’d definitely recommend others not to put up with hernia pain. The team there were fantastic.”
Kathy Lloyd, hospital director, Practice Plus Group Hospital, St Mary’s, Portsmouth, said: “I think this is such a lovely example of the work we do within our community and how surgery can make such a difference to someone’s life.
“Commonly, unless ruptured or strangulated, hernia treatment is often regarded as ‘non-essential’ and as a result has one of the longest surgery waiting times across the country on the NHS.”