Phillip Ralph did not know he had an enlarged prostate until he suffered complete bladder retention whilst on holiday. Not wanting to live with a catheter, Phillip booked to see our Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Steve Garnett, for an initial consultation and had his preoperative assessment on the same day. He then self-paid for his robotic-assisted Aquablation® procedure only a week later.
What symptoms of enlarged prostate did you suffer from?
“I had a complete bladder (also known as urinary) retention while on holiday in September 2023, but I had no warning signs or symptoms that this was going to happen to me. I had to go to A&E while on holiday to have a catheter fitted to enable me to urinate. Having a catheter fitted is not pleasant.
“It’s a very laborious process of changing bags every day, and it’s painful when you walk and sit down. I had to find a way of working full-time as a Contracts Manager while also managing the catheter. It was very problematic and changed my life completely.”
What treatment options were you offered elsewhere?
“Suffering from acute bladder retention led me to find a solution to my problem - fast. After chatting with my GP, I was advised to research trans-urethral resection of the prostate gland (TURP) and Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP).
“However, they had some side effects and risks, which were the potential of permanent acute bladder retention, incontinence and effects on sexual function. Although these are rare, as I already had bladder retention, I did not feel comfortable with the risks.”
Aquablation® cures Mr Ralph’s enlarged prostate
My name is Phillip Ralph, I live in Milton Keynes. I presently work full-time as a Contracts Manager as I was a self-payer for Aquablation®, which was completed on the 11 December 2023.
When did your symptoms start?
Through a total surprise, I had total bladder retention when I was on holiday in September 2023. I had to go to A&E in Norfolk, and I had a catheter fitted to enable me to urinate. And it came as a complete surprise to me.
At what point did you decide to book your initial urology consultation?
Matter of chance, I saw information about Aquablation® that I felt was only available in America. And to my surprise, I saw some information that Benenden Hospital in the UK actually offered this procedure, which was robotic and offered less side effects and a better recovery chance for me, as I was concerned that I did not want to have a catheter for the rest of my life.
What happened during your initial consultation?
I was very surprised I could see Mr Garnett within a week for an initial consultation. So, I was pleased to travel the distance from Milton Keynes to come down and see Mr Garnett.
On the actual day of the consultation, I brought my notes from my doctor, and he was very pleased to receive those notes and he actually discussed my symptoms and the procedures that were available.
He reassured me about understanding my problems and, to my surprise, he said he had an available appointment for surgery the following Monday.
He did explain about each procedure, but before I could make my final decision, he asked me to take some time to discuss what I really wanted.
The nursing staff were very, very helpful and very, very caring whilst, to their surprise, I was undergoing a pre op on the same day - although they just expected to have a chat over the possible options available to me. So, I was very, very happy and very, very pleased.
What did you think of the surroundings at Benenden Hospital?
Benenden Hospital is situated in nice countryside, and when you approach the hospital, it's so inviting with plenty of car parking facilities and there is no stress and there is no hassle and that puts your mind at ease from as soon as you walk in the door.
How has Aquablation® improved your life?
Aquablation® has made my life back to normal. It has given me my life back. I no longer have a catheter. I don't have any symptoms. I don't have any incontinence. I'm able to urinate absolutely perfectly. I don't have to go to the toilet frequently. It is as if I'd never experienced any problems. I am fully recovered, and I am so happy I chose Benenden and Aquablation®.
Would you recommend Benenden Hospital and Aquablation®?
The expertise is absolutely fantastic. The knowledge of the staff is second to none.
The Aquablation® treatment is first class. It is modern, it is robotic, it is accurate, and I have nothing more I can say. Please, please, please consider Aquablation® and Benenden Hospital. It is absolutely brilliant.
What would you advise people with similar symptoms to do?
Please see your local GP's surgery. Since I've returned to work, a number of my work colleagues have approached me to say they have similar symptoms, and it's surprising how many men suffer and don't talk to people.
And unfortunately, one gentleman said to me, I don't have the same symptoms that you have because I urinate quite regularly and in fact, probably more than I need to, but he didn't believe he had any symptoms.
Why did you choose Benenden Hospital?
Whilst I was researching the different treatments available to me for my symptoms, I also researched the hospitals available for those treatments. And I noticed that Benenden Hospital had received an Outstanding rating from the CQC for its services.
And that is very surprising, because of the many hospitals I reviewed, only Benenden had reached that outstanding level of service.
Because of my very, very pleasant and successful experience at Benenden Hospital, I've signed up for the loyalty scheme and I'm looking forward to looking at benefits I can gain from that scheme as the treatment here is so, so good and I would not hesitate to use the services of the hospital again.
How did you find out about Aquablation®?
“I saw a Benenden Hospital webinar, hosted by Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Garnett, about the Aquablation® procedure, which I only thought was available in America. This robotic-assisted procedure was exactly what I needed, with less side effects, risks and a quicker recovery time.”
The webinar covers people’s symptoms of suffering from Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), it explains the complications and treatment options as well as the side effects of Aquablation®. If you have any questions, you can ask too.”
What happened during your initial consultation?
“I made contact with Benenden Hospital by telephone, and I was very pleased that I could see Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Garnett within a week for an initial consultation!
“I was happy to travel the distance from Milton Keynes at a convenient time on a Monday as it meant I could begin my patient journey efficiently. I brought notes provided by my doctor and Mr Garnett was very pleased to receive them. He discussed my symptoms and the treatments he provided at Benenden Hospital for enlarged prostate. He reassured me about the side effects and risks of each procedure.
“At the end of the consultation, he said he had an available slot for surgery the following Monday. Before I made my final decision, he gave me a leaflet with all the treatments listed to reflect on what I really wanted, so I wasn’t rushed or pressured at all. I made my decision to go ahead with my Aquablation® surgery after relaxing in the Pavilion café at the hospital.”
Preoperative assessment on same day
“Mr Garnett said I was able to have the pre-op assessment on the same day as my initial consultation, so I didn’t need to travel again within a week. The nursing staff were very caring and helpful. I was so happy my patient journey had progressed so quickly, as I’d only expected to come in to discuss my treatment options, but my initial consultation offered so much more.”
How did the hospital’s location affect your patient experience?
“You often find hospitals are in the middle of towns or cities with little parking and you have to manoeuvre through city centres. But Benenden Hospital is situated in nice countryside, so when you approach the hospital, it’s really inviting, with free parking and plenty of spaces. There is no stress or hassle and that puts your mind at ease as soon as you walk through the door.”
What was your recovery like post procedure?
“My initial recovery after the surgery was very good, as I really didn’t experience much pain whatsoever. I was taken to one of their beautiful ward rooms, with an en-suite. The nursing staff were caring and attentive and came to my room every two hours to check up on me.
“The initial stay for Aquablation® was supposed to be one night but it turned into two nights to ensure that my recovery was as smooth as possible. I was discharged with the catheter still fitted because the first removal didn’t work. However, the nursing staff immediately booked an appointment for a second attempt at removing the catheter for 10 days’ time.”
How has your life improved after your Aquablation® procedure?
“After the 10 days was up, I returned for a second catheter removal trial. The nurse was very understanding of how anxiety-inducing the removal process can be, as you just want everything to go smoothly. Fortunately, the trial was successful! I can now urinate normally without the use of a catheter. I was so relieved and happy; I was in heaven!
When I returned home and back to my normal life, I still received a check-in call a week after to confirm I was recovering and functioning well. This was such a personalised approach to care.”
Phillip’s advice to other men with urology problems
“I would definitely recommend Benenden Hospital and its urology service; the expertise is absolutely fantastic. The knowledge of the staff is second to none, the Aquablation® treatment is first-class, it is a modern, robotic-assisted surgery that is accurate; it’s brilliant.
“My advice to anyone struggling with urology problems is to see your GP. Since I’ve returned to work, a few of my colleagues have said to me that they’re struggling with similar symptoms. It’s surprising how many men suffer but don’t talk to a healthcare professional for advice.
“Unfortunately, one man said I urinate more than I need to, but he didn’t believe he had an enlarged prostate. It’s important to note that there are many symptoms of enlarged prostate.”
My Benenden Hospital Rewards
“As a result of my positive experience at Benenden Hospital, I’ve signed up to the new loyalty scheme, My Benenden Hospital Rewards. I’m looking forward to exploring the benefits of this scheme, as I wouldn’t hesitate to use the services of the hospital again.”
If you sign up to our loyalty scheme and share a written or video testimonial about your experience at our hospital, you can earn 2,000 points (worth £20 off a future consultation, treatment or service, diagnostic test or scan). Learn how our loyalty program is making healthcare rewarding.
Access our private urology treatments
We offer a range of private urology treatments and services in a comfortable and reassuring environment. Whether you’re here as a urology outpatient or inpatient, our expert urology Consultants will make sure you have a speedy diagnosis and treatment in one place. That way, you don’t have to wait and worry and can get back to being you as quickly as possible, with the minimum of fuss.
For more details about costs, you can visit the Urology section of our pricing page.
You can book an appointment with one of our urology Consultants by completing our online booking form, contacting us via Livechat or by calling our Private Patient Team on 01580 363 158.
Published on 24 July 2024