John McNeill, 46, went to Larwood Surgery suffering from minor backache pains – but Dr Justin Joseph decided John should have some blood tests.

And these revealed he had kidney failure, a condition that ultimately would have killed him.

John and his wife Mandy were so grateful they decided that Dr Joseph should be rewarded with our Guardian Rose Award.

"It's nice to know there are heroes out there – and he is definitely one of them," said John.

"It is thanks to Dr Joseph for his quick judgement that he got me to Doncaster Royal Infirmary in the nick of time."

"I would like to thank him for saving my life. Larwood Surgery should be proud of him, as we are."

John had booked a morning appointment at the surgery on 20th September after he was suffering from a loss of taste and appetite and a pain near his breast, not symptoms normally associated with renal failure.

Dr Joseph took the precaution of taking blood tests and rushed the results to John by 5.20pm that afternoon.

"If he hadn't ordered those blood tests, John probably wouldn't be here today," said Mandy.
And Dr Joseph has continued to offer his help and support.

"He phoned Mandy at home when I was in hospital to check how the family were coping," said John.

"He was there for us all the time. He has been a rock and has helped me and my wife through a very difficult time. He was so overwhelmingly good."

And Dr Joseph is also complimentary about his patient's attitude.

"The most important guy here is John. He has a very serious illness and he just keeps on fighting. He's very positive about the future."
John – who is now on the waiting list for a kidney transplant operation – added:

"At a time when the NHS get slated everywhere you look, Dr Joseph goes above and beyond his job."