Doncaster patient aged 99 thanks hospital staff after recovering from Coronavirus

Albert Chambers, of Clay Lane, who will be 100 in July, says he’s ‘a very lucky man’ to have received treatment on Hazel Ward, part of Tickhill Road Hospital – which is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).

Albert received treatment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, before being admitted to Hazel Ward for rehabilitation. However, he soon started showing signs of Covid-19 and was quickly tested with results showing that unfortunately he did have the virus.

On Friday (April 10), he left for home, praising the nurses for his care.

Albert, a big Liverpool Football Club fan, who received oxygen to help him through the virus, said: “I had a fall at home around three weeks ago. My neighbour helped me and I soon found out I had broken my arm. When I get home I’m going to tell all of my neighbours how marvellous the nurses are here. I want to say ‘thank you very much’ to them. I appreciate every bit of what they have done for me. They couldn’t have been any better. I’ve been well kept and well looked after.”

Albert, a Cold Stream Guard, who at one time helped to protect Buckingham Palace, received a leg wound in Germany in the Second World War. He said: “I survived that.”

And according to his grandson, Stephen Gater, the food to keep him going through the good and the tough times is Marks and Spencer strawberry trifles!

Stephen said: “My grandad is amazing. He’s pretty incredible. He’s not only survived the war and being in prison camp, now he’s won the battle with Coronavirus.”

Paige Lax, RDaSH nurse who helped to care for Albert, said: “Albert has been a wonderful patient. He’s fought to get better. He wanted to get back home. He’s pretty amazing.”

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals announced that in the past 24 hours it had discharged another six patients who had contracted the virus.

“Our colleagues are giving it their all and are doing an outstanding job in these extraordinary times,” it said.

Please continue to support them - stay home, protect the NHS, beat Covid-19. Together we can do this!”

The announcement comes after the trust shared the story of 92-year-old William Gelder, whose family were told to brace themselves for the worst when he was admitted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary last Thursday with severe coronavirus symptoms but who is now back home after beating the virus.

He was one of 23 patients the trust – which also runs Bassetlaw Hospital in Worksop and Montagu Hospital in Mexborough – said at the time had been discharged after treatment for COVID-19.