Mr Drostan Cheetham

Written by a NHS patient at Watford General Hospital

I would like to give you a review of my excellent experience relating to my low anterior colonoscopy resection. My experience has been far beyond what could have been expected despite the recent pressures on the NHS. The team headed by Mr Cheetham and the whole of the colo rectal unit, the stoma and associated departments have explained and dealt with the issues along the way in a friendly and prompt manner. All appointments have been timely with no delays. In April 2023 I had a colonoscopy which highlighted a rectal tumour. A week later I met Mr Cheetham who put me at ease explaining the operation, the risks and the general timings and outcome. I needed a temporary ileostomy as the blood vessel supply in the area is low and extra time is required for the healing. Two weeks later I underwent the operation which took 6 hours. Again all the staff were attentive and I had frequent visits and stoma tuition so that when I left hospital some 5 days later I was self sufficient with numerous back up contacts. 8 months later, and in accordance with the timescale originally outlined to me, I had the reversal. Again all appointments and the operation were on time and all staff were attentive. Last Monday I was discharged, given the all clear and will be regularly monitored over the next few years with colonoscopies and scans. I couldn’t possibly have received better timely care anywhere and this was over the period of junior doctors and nurses strikes etc. Hospitals do not always get good publicity. Mr Cheetham and all his team are certainly the top of his profession. Well done the West Hertfordshire Hospitals. Andrew Gibson

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Written by a NHS patient at Watford General Hospital

Over and Above ! My bowl cancer surgery was already complicated due to how low down in my rectum the cancer was and it presented a very real risk of having to remove my anus completely. The surgery took two hours longer than planned and when finished Mr Cheetham realising my wife would be worried sick with no word of me, contacted her personally to let her know that everything had been a success. Over and Above again !!! Following the complete cancer removal by Mr Cheetham, I developed a condition with my gut that had me in A and E in accute pain. While in the waiting area waiting admission to the ward for overnight care, Mr Cheetham happened to walk through. He recognised me, stopped to find out why I was there and then changed his schedule to include me in on his round the very next morning. It was not his department and he did not have to do this and so I was blown away by the additional care and him going over and above to see me. Needless to say, he saw me, assessed the problem and made sure my reversal surgery was swiftly on the list and completed. 4 weeks on I am now pain free and making an increadibly fast recovery. An outstanding expert in his Feild. Mr Cheetham look after me with care and attention to every detail from the first appointment to the last. Thank you Graham FW

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Written by a NHS patient at Watford General Hospital

I would like to say not only Mr. Cheetham is one of the best surgeons, I would say in the world but also he is a superb extraordinary human being. If anybody has complications who ends that Mr. Cheetham is going to deal with it, I promise you that your life is in the safest hands you could ever be. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis and I underwent two-stage operations (A Hartmann procedure) within a space of 15 months. He did an excellent job. I am so happy with my treatment. Thanks to this gentleman and the superb NHS staff and service. God bless all of you.

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Written by a NHS patient at Watford General Hospital

Having been placed under Mr Cheetham for a right hemicolectomy to remove a large malignant tumour in the caecum area of my colon I read all of the reviews on this site. It gave me great reassurance to see the highest regard in which he was held. That someone said if you have been placed under this man's care be assured you are in safe hands further increased my confidence. On my first meeting with Mr Cheetham, his wonderful sense of humour was evident, which is something I really needed. He was clear in his explainations of the forthcoming surgery including things that can go wrong. He was warm and compassionate. I liked him immediately and left the room feeling lighthearted and with full trust in him. For all the wit he had humanity in spades.. he could see beyond my high spirits that I was still vulnerable. A well-timed squeeze of my hand on was all I needed to let me know he was in my corner and there for me throughout this. The surgery  went very well - he carried this out robotically and laparoscopically. My stay in hospital was very short.  I have been so very fortunate in that all lymph nodes, blood vessels and marginal tissue was clear of cancer and healthy, thus no further treatment is required as the surgery has done the job. I can only reiterate to others that if you find yourself under Mr Cheetham and his team, then you really are in fantastic hands. He and his team are skilled, highly professional and a wonderful group of human beings. Your trust will not be misplaced. The service I received was simply faultless. I have my signing off consultation with Mr Cheetham tomorrow.... the words 'Thank You' seem woefully inadequate. I am forever in his debt.

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Written by a NHS patient at Watford General Hospital

Following a colonoscopy on 17 September 2022 I was diagnosed with a colo-rectal cancer. I was put in the care of the Multi Disciplinary Team at the West Hertfordshire NHS Trust and assigned to the lead surgeon, Drostan Cheetham. After both CT and MRI scans I met Mr Cheetham on 5 October for a flexible sigmoidoscopy followed by a lengthy discussion of my situation and the planned treatment. Throughout this discussion I found him to be open, approachable, understanding and completely professional. I set out my concerns in terms of a descending hierarchy; Survival, Stoma, Chemotherapy associated hair loss. Mr Cheetham was very clear that he felt the tumour was removable, that a stoma might be needed (50% chance he estimated) but that it could be temporary and that, subject to the histology, no treatment beyond surgery may be required. My pre-operation assessment was later that day when I met the "Enhanced Recovery Team" and the operation was carried out on 27 October 2022. I was home by 31 October and had my follow up meeting with Mr Cheetham on 9 November 2022. Mr Cheetham began the meeting by saying "I am going to put a smile on your wife's face." He was sensitive to the fact that this whole process had placed at least as much of a burden on my wife as it had on me. This was typical of his empathetic approach. My treatment was 100% successful with the tumour removed and no evidence of any cancer in the 23 lymph nodes harvested. No stoma had been required and there was no need for any further treatment. I cannot praise Drostan Cheetham highly enough, not only for his outstanding ability as a surgeon and the quality of the outcome he delivered for me, but also for his humanity, approachability and empathy with patients facing such challenging circumstances. Thank you. Iain Roden 10 November 2022.

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