FOR Anne Wiggins, the two medics who have cared for her over the past 21 years are her Hospital Heroes.

The 63-year-old has nominated Dr Chris Winearls and Professor David Cranston for our award to honour the city’s NHS heroes.

Oxford Mail:

  • Dr Chris Winearls 

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with rare kidney disorder retroperitoneal fibrosis in 1993 and since then the Churchill Hospital medics have supported her throughout her ordeal.

She said: “They have looked after me so well. Dr Winearls has kept my kidneys going all these years and Professor Cranston performed my operations and made me feel so much better.

Oxford Mail:

Prof David Cranston

“I think if I had not had their support, I don’t think I would be here now.

“I think so much of them and they do so much. I thought they deserved something.”

The Oxford Mail has teamed up with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust to honour one outstanding individual and team from the trust.

Nominations close on Friday, September 5 and winners will be revealed during the trust’s annual staff awards in December.

We want you to put forward hardworking staff – be they doctors, nurses, admin or support staff – for the awards, to thank those who have gone the extra mile for us when we have needed it most.

For Mrs Wiggins, her doctors have been there for her since she fell ill at Easter 1993, after suffering with back and stomach pain for five months.

She underwent open abdominal surgery at the the Old Road hospital to try and relieve pressure on her uterus.

After operating, medics discovered her kidney tubes were blocked and diagnosed her with the condition.

Monthly hospital appointments then followed so hospital staff could monitor Mrs Wiggins.

She returned to the Headington hospital for an operation in February this year when Professor Cranston tried to remove excess tissue from her uterus.

The operation was unsuccessful and Mrs Wiggins spent a week recovering at the hospital.

But she is thankful of the continous support she has received from Dr Winearls and Professor Cranston for more than 20 years.

She said: “It would be amazing if they won. I would be over the moon.

“They have just helped me being the way they are.

“They have just changed my life and my family’s.

“I don’t think I could ever repay them. I am just pleased I have got such good doctors.”

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