One year on from a tramatic visit to A&E and Nigel Goodman, 63, is now  looking forward to celebrating his mother Joan's 95th birthday next month. 

The Chingford Avenue resident has spoken to the Guardian about his family's experience at the Leytonstone hospital to encourage more people with positive stories to come forward. 

Joan Goodman, was rushed to hospital from her care home at Belmont Lodge in Fencepiece Road, Chigwell, on April 10 2014.  

Mr Goodman had received a call to say his mother was seriously ill and had been taken into intensive care. 

Doctors quickly discovered it was blood poisoning and Mrs Goodman was placed on a drip feed and strong antibiotics to stop the poisoning reaching her organs, which would have been fatal, Mr Goodman was told. 

That same evening Mr Goodman received an urgent phone call to return to the hospital as his mother's health had rapidly deteriorated. 

“I saw her from a distance; she had tubes hanging out of her everywhere,” said Mr Goodman. 

“I did not think she would pull through and a doctor even told me she may not make it” 

But with constant care and medication, her health gradually improved and she was transferred to an isolated area within a general ward to minimise further risk of infection. 

Although still somewhat weak and unable to fully open her eyes, after a two week stay in hospital the mother-of-four and grandmother was discharged back to her care home. 

“The staff at Whipps were absolutely magnificent,” Mr Goodman added. 

I was able to look at her records and was kept up-to-date on her progress. If they had not given her instant care, she would have died. 

“Undoubtedly they saved her life and I could not thank them enough.

“We hear far too many stories of people complaining about the NHS, but the service saves peoples' lives every day. 

“Whipps Cross has always had negative press and that is why it is important to share my positive experience.”  

Following her return to Belmont Lodge, Mrs Goodman will be celebrating her 95th birthday on May 4.