Praise for medics following cancer battle
A grateful Walsall Freeman of the Borough has heaped praise on lifesaving medics who treated him in his battle against cancer.
Ian Shires and his family were dealt an “earth shattering” blow earlier this year when the 79-year-old was diagnosed with bowel cancer back in September.
But he said the level of care he received at Walsall Manor Hospital, including a nine-hour operation on October 10 by Mr Muhammad Tayyab and his team to remove the tumour, had reinforced his faith in the NHS.
He continues to have regular tests and check-ups but he is on the road to recovery and has even gone back to attending meetings of community associations he is part of.
Mr Shires spent 42 years on Walsall Council, serving the Willenhall North ward as a Liberal Democrat before his run came to an end in the 2021 local elections.
He became the 24th recipient of the Freeman of the Borough honour in Walsall later that year in recognition of his dedicated service.
Mr Shires said: “The past couple of months have, for me, been the stuff of nightmares.
“As someone who has enjoyed relatively good health most of my life to suddenly find out that something potentially life threatening is happening to you can only be described as earth shattering.
“But the level of care that I had was absolutely brilliant – it wasn’t because of who I was because most of them didn’t know me.
“Whatever the issues are with the NHS, it certainly isn’t down to the people on the ground because the treatment I received was fantastic.
“My thanks go to Mr Tayyab and his team for giving me a fighting chance going forward,
“I also want to thank everyone in the NHS who had an input into my care, from the paramedics who responded to our 999 call back on the 23rd September and everyone at Walsall Manor Hospital.
“In particular I want to thank those involved in my care in the Emergency Department, and on AMU, Ward 29, and Ward 20.
“And it doesn’t end there. The ongoing care I have received through the Colorectal Nurse Specialists, the Community Nurse, Outpatients and the services at our GP practice, the Sina Health Centre, New Invention cannot be faulted.
“I consider myself very fortunate to live in a country where there is a health service free at the point of delivery and we should do all we can to ensure that continues to be the case for all our sakes.”
