A stroke patient who spent almost nine weeks in hospital has returned home thanks to a new treatment device that helped him regain the ability to swallow.
John Plant, 69, was admitted to Queen’s Hospital on April 25 after suffering a stroke.
He spent part of his stay in the Jubilee Intensive Care Unit, where he was intubated and unable to breathe or swallow on his own.
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John said: "It was scary. I don’t remember a lot of the first part of my stay, but I do remember how uncomfortable it was not being able to swallow or speak properly."
As part of his recovery, he was treated with Phagenyx, a device that stimulates the throat to help restore the swallowing reflex.
Emily Mason, stroke speech and language therapist, said: "Before Phagenyx, there were no reliable, evidence-based treatments for this type of swallowing difficulty. We had to wait for swallowing to improve naturally, which could take a long time and sometimes mean a feeding tube was needed.
"With Phagenyx, we’ve seen patients improve much more quickly, including making progress with eating and drinking."
Following treatment, John was able to eat and drink normally and join other patients at the ward’s breakfast club, continuing: "The device wasn’t painful. Most of the time it just felt a bit tingly."
He was discharged from hospital in time to enjoy a home-cooked meal and some time in the garden with his wife Elaine, children Philip and Katie, and grandchildren Alfie, Sophie, Ella, and Poppy, adding: "I’m very grateful for the care I’ve received at Queen’s Hospital."
The trust which runs Queen's said early results suggest the use of Phagenyx could deliver savings of around £300,000 a year.
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