Before retiring from Dyfed Powys Police, Gareth Jones had been looking forward to enjoying the next chapter of his life after more than three decades of policing.
Instead, the 54-year-old, who was former chair of Dyfed Powys Police Federation, found his retirement overshadowed by persistent physical pain that first emerged during the final months of his service, affecting both his wellbeing and quality of life.
But thanks to the support of the National Police Healthcare Scheme (NPHS), Gareth has been given a fresh lease of life – allowing him to embrace retirement in the way he had hoped.
Gareth Jones
Fittingly, his treatment came on 5 June this year, exactly 31 years after he first joined the Force, turning a date that had always marked the beginning of his policing career into the start of a new chapter beyond it.
“What the NPHS has given me has been incredible – the amount I have ended up benefiting has made years of being a paying member feel well worth it,” Gareth said.
“At a time in my life when I needed a resolution for my health, the scheme was there to provide that for me.
Discomfort
“Towards the end of my time in the police, I suffered a burst appendix, which obviously left me in a lot of discomfort and had a big impact on my day-to-day life.
“I then had abdominal surgery through the NHS, and although this did a lot to heal the appendicitis, there were also complications I was left with, and these needed fixing.
“On top of this, I was told another surgery through the NHS – which I had planned to stick with – could leave me waiting up to 12 months, with no guarantee the same thing wouldn’t happen again.
“That’s where the NPHS came in, and I couldn’t be more thankful I decided to reach out and see what it could offer.”
Once he made this decision, Gareth soon had all his options laid out in front of him, eventually opting for private surgery at a provider local to him in Swansea.
Abdominal procedure
And in doing so, he became the first NPHS patient to receive care at HMT Sancta Maria Hospital, successfully undergoing a corrective abdominal procedure at the beginning of the summer.
“It was all so quick and easy, and when all you want is to feel better, that makes all the difference,” he continued.
“At the same time, it was very thorough, and I never felt rushed into making a decision.
“After years of paying into the scheme, covering both me and my wife, it was nice to finally get some reward – especially at such good value for money.
“Treatment becomes both more accessible and affordable, so it feels like a win all-round, and that’s why I would encourage anyone eligible to sign up to the NPHS.”
While he may have left the police, Gareth has remained in the emergency services as a team leader in the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Public service
Despite all his frontline experience, he says recurring pain has been preventing him from getting the most out of his new role.
“It was one of a few different areas of my life being affected. The locations of some call-outs meant I would sometimes have a lot of stairs to climb, and then there’s having to lift people up, which wasn’t always easy.
“But now, that’s all changed, and I feel so much better, freer and confident again.
“To have gained that back on the anniversary of me joining the Force was a nice touch, because it underlines the dedication I’ve given to public service and the fact I am now able to continue giving that, back at my best.
“The NPHS has made that a reality for me, and I really couldn’t fault it or thank it enough.”
READ MORE: ‘I truly believe my NPHS membership saved my wife’s life’.