GARY Syvret has faced a double heart bypass, lung cancer, an aneurysm and a terminal diagnosis – but he says one of the most important parts of his treatment began only after he left intensive care.
Mr Syvret was sent to Sir John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in May 2023 for stents but was told there that he needed a double heart bypass and had an aneurysm and cancer in his right lung.
His treatment included surgery in Southampton, chemotherapy in Jersey and unplanned trips to A&E and the Intensive Care Unit, where the team were able to stabilise Mr Syvret before a crucial return flight to Oxford.
Mr Syvret gave his testimony to health professionals during a seminar to raise awareness of the need to support patients who have spent time in ICU, and the work of Jersey Critical Care Survivors, a charity set up by the ICU team at the Hospital.
He particularly praised the work of Dr Alessio Agostinis, a psychologist at the Hospital offering a dedicated service to post-ICU patients.
Mr Syvret said: “I have been very lucky because when I came back from Oxford last year, I was introduced to Dr Alessio. I did not realise there was mental health back-up following time in ICU. It was very reassuring that I was going to get some help psychologically.”
He went on to describe having hallucinations after his last operation which were “off the scale” and included seeing the nursing staff as penguins.
He also talked about the impact of his journey, which now has a terminal diagnosis, on his wife, Annette.
Mr Syvret said: “Conversations with Dr Alessio have not only helped me but also my wife. She is on a difficult journey through no fault of her own and the pain I am putting her through is hard to manage – but the work this man has done with me has been exceptional.”
The seminar also heard from various health professionals, including consultant Dr Kirsten Macdonald, who explained about Post Intensive Care Syndrome, which affects half of all patients who come out of ICU.
This can manifest itself in several ways, including poor sleep, brain fog, delirium, weakness, poor social interaction, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress. It can also develop in the families of patients.
However, Dr Maindonald also listed ways that healthcare professionals can reduce the risk, including reducing sedation, preventing and managing pain, and keeping diaries on ICU patients, which can help them with memory recovery.
ICU nurse Sister Holly Fisher, who helped found Jersey Critical Care Survivors, also outlined how the team had established weekly follow-up clinics for post-ICU patients.
ICU specialist Dr Alun Roberts praised the work of everyone involved in the charity, which was set up in 2020, with staff and volunteers fundraising to support its work.
He said its biggest achievement out of many so far had been to raise funds to employ Dr Agostinis as an embedded psychologist within ICU. He said the position has recently become a staff post and Dr Agostinis’s six hours a week had been extended to 12.
“We need to raise the profile of this amazing charity, not only to keep money coming in but also so people know it is there to support anyone who has come out of ICU.”
