Heartbeat: Walking football star Brian gets back on his feet

January 11, 2019

Each month the Trust Board hears about the experiences from one of our patients. In December, Mr Brian Hassall, came to talk to Board members about the care he received at Sandwell General Hospital after a bad tackle in his walking football match.

Mr Hassall, 74, from Rugeley, has had a long career as financial advisor to leading Premier League footballers. A keen sportsman himself, he was introduced to walking football two and a half years ago and has excelled at the sport, playing regularly for the Aston Villa team. It was during a match at Villa Park that Brian enthusiastically tackled an opponent who was a former European cup winner.

That tackle caused him a serious hip fracture and he was rushed to Sandwell Hospital, by ambulance, straight from the Villa ground.

He was assessed, given an x-ray and transferred to a ward overnight. Surgery to repair his hip was carried out and, after a three day stay in hospital, Brian was discharged home.

Talking about his experience, Brian said: “The nurses were wonderful and the care I received was fantastic. I told the consultant I wanted to be the fastest recovering 74 year old.

“A tiny bit of criticism was that on arrival to the emergency department all I wanted was someone to look me in the eye and acknowledge me. I know that they were busy and that they would see me but eye contact would have been reassuring. When I had the x-ray, unfortunately, a porter pulled on my damaged leg when they were trying to help me – that was so painful! I know they didn’t mean to do it but I wondered if a label marking the part of the body that needed treatment would be helpful?

“Unfortunately the team doing the x-ray weren’t able to tell me the results, just that I had to stay in overnight. It would have made me worry less if I knew what the problem was and whether I would need surgery.

“At the start of the surgery I was really impressed by the way the senior sister stopped everyone before the procedure and went through a checklist. It was like a SAS military operation. I had confidence that everyone knew exactly what they were doing and I was in safe hands.

“All in all, I think I had wonderful care. Sandwell isn’t my local hospital but I’m so glad I was cared for here. I’m looking forward to getting back to walking football – my wife has banned it until I turn 75!”