KSS and former patient Sam Resouly, who was seriously injured in a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) while cycling, are proudly supporting Road Safety Week (17 to 23 November) organised by road safety charity Brake.
By sharing his powerful story of survival, Sam and KSS hope to help support Brake in highlighting the real human stories behind the numbers and support Brake’s call for the very highest standard of care for every road victim. Together we want to increase awareness of the importance of road safety to help create safer roads for everyone, saving even more lives and improving the outcome for more patients.
Every year more than 1,700 people die on UK roads and another 30,000 receive serious life-changing injuries.
Sam, who was involved in a collision whilst out cycling in July 2022, is sharing his story publicly for the first time. He was just 400 metres from his home when he was involved in a collision with a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Sam now wants to use his experience to encourage others to do all they can to stay safe on the roads.
Sam said: “I was knocked unconscious and suffered significant injuries. I’ll always be grateful to the team from KSS who cared for me that day. Without their care and attention my recovery would have been significantly longer, but without the helmet I was wearing I don’t think I would have been alive to recover at all. During Road Safety Week, and every week, I would like to encourage cyclists to buy and use the best helmet they can afford.”
During Road Safety Week, Brake is calling for the best ongoing care for victims of RTCs, and Sam has paid tribute to the ongoing care he and his family have received from KSS.
Sam continued: “The team from KSS stabilised me, gave me advanced pain relief and took me quickly to St George’s Hospital in London, a major trauma centre. Ever since then the Patient and Family Aftercare Service at KSS has been there to support my family and I, and we remain forever grateful.”
Our Patient and Family Aftercare Team offers a range of support, including base visits and helping to explain the care a patient received. They may also be able to arrange a meeting with the crew who cared for a patient.
Stuart Plumbley, our Head of Patient and Family Aftercare Manager said: “We are pleased that our crew was there to care for Sam on the day he was injured and our Aftercare Service has been delighted to be able to support Sam and his family since then.”
“A large number of the patients who are helped by our Aftercare Service have been involved in RTCs. Behind the numbers are individuals like Sam trying to deal with the many issues that follow these devastating incidents. Their lives have changed in an instant and, at KSS, we are there to help them on what can be a long road to recovery.
“Another important element is helping patients and relatives understand the treatment and care received from our clinical teams including filling the gaps. These missing details are so important, often having a profound positive effect, for all involved; patients, their families and our bereaved families”.
Read Sam’s story in full to learn more about what happened to him.
