Betty Rolfe, aged 77, from Chatham in Kent, recently returned to Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, Gillingham, where she had once worked for nearly two decades as a healthcare assistant, to undergo cataract surgery. After noticing her vision becoming increasingly blurred and realising how much it affected her daily life and her role as carer for her husband, she was referred for treatment. Within weeks she received NHS surgery with the standard lens option and was delighted with the results. For her, it was not only a return as a patient but a reminder of the compassionate care she’d experienced since the day the hospital opened.
“When you’ve lived with blurred vision for so long, you don’t realise how bad it is until someone gives you your sight back.“
Betty Rolfe, cataract patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Gillingham
“I had my cataract surgery about a month ago, and it has been absolutely fantastic. Before the operation I couldn’t see a thing without my glasses. I hadn’t realised just how blurred everything had become – you get used to it without noticing. Then suddenly, once the surgery was done, it was like a film had been lifted away and I could see clearly again.
“I had the standard lens put in, and it’s brilliant. I don’t need my glasses now, which feels so freeing. I look after my husband, who has dementia, so being able to see properly makes such a difference day to day. It’s lovely to be able to get on with things around the house without struggling to focus.
“The team told me I’d need to go to my opticians, Specsavers, for the follow-up check-up appointment, and that’s absolutely fine. I’m just excited for the next step because I can’t wait to get my other eye done. Once they check this one and refer me back, I’m hoping I’ll get the appointment soon.
“I started as a healthcare assistant and stayed until I retired a couple of years ago to look after my husband. I saw a lot of changes over the years, but one thing that always stood out was how much we focused on treating patients as individuals. It felt like a little family.”
Betty Rolfe, cataract patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Gillingham
“I worked at the hospital from day one when it first opened for about 17 or 18 years altogether, so going back there felt very familiar. I started as a healthcare assistant and stayed until I retired a couple of years ago to look after my husband. I saw a lot of changes over the years, but one thing that always stood out was how much we focused on treating patients as individuals. It felt like a little family.
“My surgeon Mr Massimo Sibilio was wonderful, he was very reassuring. Everything was explained clearly, and the whole team were so kind and professional. I chose Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, Gillingham for my surgery through NHS patient choice straightaway, partly because it’s local and partly because I knew the hospital so well and trusted it. Even though it’s a private facility I knew they treated NHS patients too, so it worked well for me.
“I didn’t have to wait long for my surgery either. From the time my optician recommended me to the actual surgery, it was only about five or six weeks. It all happened very quickly. When you’ve lived with blurred vision for so long, you don’t realise how bad it is until someone gives you your sight back. Now I can actually see properly again, and it’s amazing.
“I’m 77 now, and having this done has made me feel more confident and independent. I’m really looking forward to having the second eye done so I can enjoy that same clarity. I’m just so grateful for the care I received at Gillingham. After all the years I worked there, it felt lovely to experience that same kindness and professionalism as a patient.”
