Greenhithe kidney patient thanks nurses who trekked through snow on their day off

Sister Sarah Smail and staff nurse Binu Varghese also helped to clear snow from the centre’s car park to ensure that ambulances did not get stuck.

Jerry Singal, aged 67, of Mount Nod, Greenhithe, receives dialysis treatment three times a week at the King’s Dartford Dialysis Unit, Darenth Wood Road.

The unit is based in Darent Valley Hospital, but run by King’s College Hospital, London.

Mr Singal said: “Usually people would say ‘no, I’m on holiday’, but these two are dedicated. Nobody told them to do that.

“They were amazing. A group of us were waiting for six hours with no transport because the roads were closed. But these two picked up a brush and cleared the snow.

“If you miss dialysis, toxins in your body accumulate.

“If you miss dialysis, you die.”

“They save my life every day with the dialysis treatment, that’s enough help for me.”

Sister Smail told News Shopper she is overwhelmed with the thanks she has received for helping patients on her day off.

She said: “The patients have to have dialysis and I have a duty of care to those patients, so it made sense that as local staff we are available for that.

“It’s part of my job and I love doing it - I would always go that extra mile for our patients.

“It’s lovely that Jerrald wants to thank us, he’s a lovely chap.”

Nurse Varghese, who lives in Highfield Road, Dartford, said: “We just thought it was more helpful that we went in and did it, otherwise nobody was coming in.

“We just did it and were happy to do it. We have a good relationship with our patients.”

Both nurses walked three miles to reach the site and were covered in snow by the time they got there.

Mr Singal, who lives with his 35-year-old wife Erica, said: “They were soaking wet throughout, but just got on with it.”

Retired bomb disposal and logistics expert Mr Singal has been receiving dialysis treatment for three years.

The father-of-two was taken to Darent Valley Hospital in February 2004 after suffering a heart attack, and in August 2008 his kidneys failed, leaving him needing dialysis treatment.

Mr Singal said he may need the treatment for the rest of his life.

Dialysis lasts for four hours at a time, and patients whose kidneys are not functioning properly are hooked up to a machine which imitates the kidney’s functions.

One tube removes the blood and the other tube returns the cleaner, filtered blood back to the patient.

Mr Singal, who served with the Army for 25 years, also nominated staff at the unit for an award last year to thank them for their dedication, attitude and high quality service.

A spokeswoman for Kings College London said: “Our staff are overwhelmed and really feel that they were just doing their job.”