Dr Ajay Dhaygude 2022-09-28 Person 5 5 0

My 86 yr old mother, on whose behalf I am writing this, has been holding her own against stage 4 CKD for 10 years - and much of that is down to the care she has received, and continues to receive, from Dr Ajay Dhaygude. Since March 2020 it's been made tougher by the pandemic as a chronically extremely vulnerable patient - and in that time she has become effectively housebound and increasingly frail. That's worsened in recent weeks, as a result of circumstances beyond our control, but which directly impacted her health, necessitating an ambulance visit in the early hours, so her next appointment in early October is very definitely going to be in person - and I know Dr D will make her feel better. He is a great communicator and, most importantly, a good listener. More often than not she will update him on her own life and family and upsets - and he doesn't cut her short as others would. It's an holistic approach which includes her unpaid carer, me, too, because my own health and emotional wellbeing has declined since quitting work to care for my mum full time. He is loved by his patients, no doubt about it - and it's also lovely to know that his secretary Andrea at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is just as caring and attentive. Carers often fight battles for their loved ones to ensure they get the care they need - and often take on responsibilities and commitments which can seem overwhelming if the support isn't there but which do save the health service and the economy time and money. I've never had to fight my mother's corner with Dr D because he's her champion. Here we have a doctor and a team which appreciate that and effectively support unpaid carers, too. A heartfelt endorsement and thank you from my mother and myself.