Chadwell Heath Covid-19 patient discharged from hospital after 149 days

Anil Patel is now being cared for in a residential rehab centre (credit: BHRUT)

A 63-year-old man from Chadwell Heath has been discharged from hospital after spending 149 days being treated for Covid-19.

Anil Patel was admitted to King George in May after collapsing at his home.

He was later transferred to Queen’s Hospital and spent four months in intensive care, including two months under sedation.

“I remember my daughter calling an ambulance and being taken to hospital,” Anil said. “Then, I don’t remember anything for the next two months.

“My time in hospital has been very up and down – I found myself sometimes feeling quite angry at first and taking it out on the wrong people, but I always apologised.

“Now, it’s on the up all the time. I’ve got to give it to the staff, they saved my life and have really looked after me. They’ve become part of my family, everyone knows me, the doctors, nurses, and the cleaners. I cannot praise them enough.”

Anil, who is a building manager, will now continue his recovery at a residential rehab centre and hopes to return home in time for the birthdays of his two daughters, Aneeka, 28, and Nikeeta, 27, next month.

He added: “I’ve got a lovely family and I just want to get home to them. We’ve been video calling but it’s not the same. I’ve seen them once in all this time, when I was taken outside to see them by the staff. It was very emotional.

“What’s kept me occupied throughout my time in hospital is contact with my family. I’ve also got three sisters, nieces and nephews, and lots of good friends. I spend 90 per cent of my time on the phone. I’ve also enjoyed lots of chats with the staff, and other patients.”

Anil also has a message for people who are not adhering to the rules which are there to keep us safe during the pandemic.

“I wouldn’t want anybody else to go through what I have so everyone should wear a mask and take all the precautions they can,” he said. “I get really annoyed when I hear people aren’t doing what they should; they would change their minds if they saw people like me suffering.”

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