Oldham Covid patient in hospital since March is discharged fit and well

Gary Dissington left hospital after over 100 days.

An Oldham man who was admitted to hospital with Covid-19 in March has finally left hospital.

Gary Dissington was finally discharged home to his family on Friday from Rochdale Infirmary Floyd Unit

Gary, 57, from Shaw, was first admitted to The Royal Oldham hospital during the first wave on 29 March, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated on the hospital’s Acute Medical Unit for six days, the Intensive Care Unit, and wards including G1, F7 and F8.

As his recovery progressed Gary was transferred to the Floyd Unit at Rochdale Infirmary, which is a specialist unit for brain injuries.

On Friday, staff lined either side of the carpark outside the Floyd Unit and clapped and cheered Gary during a special guard of honour as he was finally discharged fit and well back to his family.

Gary said he was particularly pleased to be reunited with his wife and his new born baby granddaughter.

Medics were overwhelmed to see Gary leave hospital over eight months after he was first admitted. It is understood that he is one of the longest-standing stay-in-hospital COVID-19 patients in the country with over 100 days in ICU.

Doctors and nurses are amazed at his recovery - at one stage doctors gave him just a 10 per cent chance of survival.

Dr Redmond Tully, Consultant at The Royal Oldham Hospital, was involved in Gary’s care. He said: “I am over the moon to see Gary leave hospital today, he is a true fighter, his recovery is remarkable, and testimony to the great care he received at The Royal Oldham and Rochdale Infirmary. Gary was first admitted after being struck down with COVID-19 during the first wave, he was really very poorly, and for us to see him now well enough to go home to his family, including his wife and new born granddaughter, is truly amazing.”

Dr Tully also explained that Gary has helped with vital COVID-19 research during his time in hospital.

“We also owe Gary our gratitude because has also personally added to our knowledge of how to treat COVID-19 by being the first patient at The Royal Oldham to be recruited to the national urgent public health RECOVERY trial into treatments for COVID-19. Thanks to him and thousands of other people like him, we now have a cheap and readily available treatment that we know reduces the risk of death from COVID-19.”

Gary’s daughter Chanelle Dissington, 27, said: “I would like to say how absolutely incredible the care was that was provided to my father while he was in hospital in Oldham and Rochdale. We are very overwhelmed to have him back at home today, but we are very thankful to the NHS.

“My dad Gary is a bit overwhelmed himself as he has just got home, but we are all so happy and thankful for all the hard work of the doctors and nurses – they saved his life.”

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