Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (GCCC) is joining forces with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) to help us celebrate 75 years of the NHS.
Earlier this year the cricket club named Southmead Hospital Charity, which support NBT services, as one of its official charity partners for 2023.
Just days after the partnership was announced GCCC Chief Executive, Will Brown, found himself under the care of Southmead Hospital’s Major Trauma Unit after he was involved in a collision while cycling to work.
Will only spent a few days in the hospital and his recovery is going well. Today he will be joining colleagues from the club – including mascot Alfred G. Rilla to help staff at NBT celebrate the milestone of the 75th anniversary of the NHS.
Here Will explains more:
“I’ve been CEO at Gloucestershire for nearly 10 years and have been working for the last 25 years in and around sport. I’m very fortunate in that growing up reasonably locally in Bath, Gloucestershire has always been my cricket team of choice.
“Until recently most of my contact with Southmead Hospital has been via work and our partnerships with charities that have had a base there, such as BrAMS (Bristol & Avon Multiple Sclerosis Centre).”
Becoming a patient at Southmead Hospital
“On Monday 16 January of this year, I was cycling to work in Bristol from my home in Bath when a car - unaware of my presence- turned last-minute across the lane I was travelling down and the collision threw me from my bike. I was travelling at 20 miles an hour at the time and the impact of my bike hitting the side of the car threw me from the bike, over the top of the car and into the road behind it.
“I was transferred to the RUH in Bath and then later to the major trauma unit at Southmead. I had suffered concussion and broken my right shoulder blade but also had a fracture dislocation of my C6/C7 vertebrae. I also suffered significant bruising and grazing across my body.
“Within 24 hours of the accident I was in theatre for the fracture dislocation of my neck and had a titanium implant cage placed in my neck to secure the surrounding vertebrae and to replace the broken vertebrae.”
Incredible support
“Whilst at the hospital I met and was supported by incredible person after incredible person; from the ambulance crew that drove me to Southmead, the night team that welcomed me in through to the nurses, consultants. Physios, major trauma co-ordinator, therapists, cleaners and catering team who put me back together and cheered me up.
“I was only in hospital for a few days and although it was terrifying going home the team made me believe that I could and should go. Their welcoming and supportive way was also extended to my wife and the rest of our family, who, equally traumatised, greatly appreciated all the care they received as well.
“Having returned home I have had physio and psych support (both group and individual) as well as follow-ups on the care I received and obviously the all-important consultations with the neurosurgery and orthopaedic teams.
“My wife and I even got to talk to the Trauma team leaders across the South West about our experiences which was amazing. I genuinely feel the support we have received has been incredible.
“My recovery is going well - it is certainly not linear, but it is moving forwards. My neurosurgeon, Reiko Ashida said to me before the operation that she was going to make me “better” and I have taken that very much as a challenge to not just get back to where I was but to be “better” than I was before in every aspect of my life.”
Thank you
“I want to say a massive thank you, thank you for being the people you are, for the care you provide and the passion and empathy you bring to what you do.
“Thank you for holding my hand when I needed it and for accepting all the tears. You are all amazing and what you achieve and do for so many is so valued and appreciated. I owe you one!”
Speaking of GCCC’s support of Southmead Hospital Charity, Sally Bennett, Head of Fundraising, said: “We’re so proud to be one of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club’s chosen charities this year and pleased that they’re here to celebrate the NHS’s 75th birthday with us.
“Support from our local community is vital in helping our amazing NHS go further and we’re so grateful for the generosity that the Club and its supporters have shown so far. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.”