A BUSINESSMAN is back walking his dog after recovering from Covid-19, thanks to video physiotherapy sessions from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Fifty-four-year-old property developer and office equipment supplier Rob Martin loves nothing more than taking his English Springer Spaniel, Chloe, for long walks with his partner Kathryn.

Rob was admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees in March after struggling with his breathing.

He was diagnosed with Covid-19, and then sedated and spent the next three weeks on a ventilator.

Rob said that waking up in Darlington Memorial Hospital with no memory of the previous three weeks was a complete shock.

He said: “My niece is a paramedic and she made me call 111 for advice when she realised how bad my breathing was.

“I was at North Tees and it all happened so quickly. I just had time to text my partner Kathryn and tell her I was about to be sedated and the next thing I knew I was waking up and being told it was three weeks later and I was now in Darlington.

“I can’t remember a thing apart from some very real, quite scary dreams. I was a little paranoid when I first woke up to be honest because I wasn’t sure what was real and what wasn’t.

“I can’t thank the staff at both hospitals enough for what they did for me. They saved my life.”

On returning home, Rob struggled with simple tasks such as walking up the stairs. His regular six mile walks with Chloe were out of the question.

Rob was referred to the Trust’s community integrated assessment team and received an initial assessment in his own home from physiotherapist Tom McCourt.

Tom said: “Rob and I discussed how best to make sure he received the physiotherapy support he needed, but also kept him safe.We agreed on video consultations, where I can deliver the session via our laptops. Rob’s aim was to get back out with his dog, but when we first met he could only stand up and down from a chair six times in 30 seconds and needed a walking frame to get around the house.We had weekly sessions via Virtual Consultations, plus I sent Rob an exercise programme to work on when he was alone. We worked together for four weeks and I was thrilled to see he’s now managed a two mile walk with Chloe. Bringing community therapy into the digital world is a fantastic achievement."