Steve McCabe MP: The Future of the NHS Now
This morning, I witnessed a phenomenal event at St Thomas’ Hospital. I saw a patient have their Aortic Valve replaced by what is known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). It involves making a small incision in the groin and feeding in the new valve. The process was of particular interest to me because almost six years ago I underwent open heart surgery to repair my mitral valve. I was in the operating theatre for several hours, given an enormous volume of anaesthetic, spent time on a ventilator and when I eventually came round, I wasn’t actually sure if I’d survived.
I’m immensely grateful to those who treated me and put me back on the road to recovery, and every time I run up a flight of stairs in Parliament, I'm reminded of how close it could have been. Nonetheless, I spent three days in intensive care and another 14 on a recovery ward and several weeks sitting at home unable to do much for myself. Only after several months of rehab did I begin to feel anything like normal. I was off work for about six months. It was a long and arduous process, and despite being quite a determined character, I have to confess there were periods when I began to doubt that I’d ever be OK again.
This morning I saw something close to a miracle treatment. The procedure took about 30 minutes, and the patient was conscious throughout. There’s every chance he’ll be home in 3 days. It opens up a whole new world for those needing Aortic Valve renewal. Currently, TAVI is most likely to be used for those aged 75 and over, but the procedure has many potential applications and holds out the prospect of people returning to normal life almost immediately.
At a time when demand on beds is such a major issue and new NHS Medical Director, Sir Stephen Powis, argues that a person over 80 who spends ten days in hospital loses 10% of muscle mass, the equivalent to 10 years ageing, TAVI should be regarded as a significant breakthrough.
By 2045 around 25% of our population will be over the age of 65. We cannot expect such people to survive massive surgical interventions, intensive care and prolonged hospital stays but we shouldn’t see this as their problem; it’s a real opportunity to modernise medicine. TAVI is about returning people to health and activity as soon as possible. That way, they can continue to live a healthy life whether that involves the world of paid employment, running social groups or community organisations, providing care or the hundred and one other meaningful contributions people over the age of 65 make to society.
We need a 21st century NHS that can rapidly restore people to good health and minimise the risks associated with extensive, complicated surgery, anaesthesia and lengthy recovery periods. As we launch MedTech week, I was privileged to witness just such an approach.
Steve McCabe is the Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Selly Oak.