Many holidaymakers make a dash to the pharmacist before flying off on holiday. But Barry Evans rang his former employer Dervis Gurol, who owns Healthy-U Pharmacy in Saltdean, because he was feeling ill before a trip to sunny Madeira. 

After discussing his symptoms, a "number of clinical alarm bells" started ringing for me,” says Gurol, who was himself off sick from work when Evans called and told him his oxygen level reading was 88. 

“Given his low oxygen readings and breathlessness, my first advice was for him to attend A&E immediately," says Gurol.

“When he was understandably hesitant, I strongly advised that the absolute minimum he should do was see his GP - urgently.” 

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Evans took Gurol’s advice, and the doctor took an electrocardiogram and issued antibiotics to be picked up from Health-U Pharmacy for a suspected chest infection. However, the pharmacy had shut. But later that evening, the doctor called Evans and told him to go to A&E after consulting another doctor. 

“On arrival I was whisked into an intensive care unit and had an immediate CT scan which identified massive pulmonary embolisms and needed immediate treatment. My oxygen level was now at an extremely dangerous low level of 82,” says Evans. 

Cabin pressure 

All this drama was unknown to Gurol, who arrived an hour ahead of opening at the pharmacy to complete the prescription for Evans that had come through the night before. 

“I dispensed it and delivered it to his house in case his GP felt an infection needed to be treated,” Gurol says. But when he arrived to hand it over, Mrs Evans answered the door and told him about Barry being admitted to hospital the night before.  

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At the hospital, the consultant had told Evans if he had got on the plane for his holiday to Madeira, “the cabin pressure would likely have killed me. Dervis saved my life without a doubt!”

Evans is “slowly making a recovery”, the blood clots will take several months to clear. 

On Gurol’s intervention, Evans praised him as “an outstanding man”. 

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“I cannot thank Dervis enough for his critical advice and his exceptional commitment to his profession in providing a very valuable service to the community. 

“The community benefits greatly for his professional care and goes beyond your everyday chemist.” 

Gurol said he was “simply doing my job” and “looking out for someone in my community”. 

“Many of us are independent prescribers and highly skilled clinicians doing everything we can to support our communities.  

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I’m just very grateful that Barry trusted my advice, sought further medical help, and that he’s now on the road to recovery.” 

Gurol's lifesaving intervention comes after a Boots dispenser saved a 41-year-old man’s life after giving him a full 15 mins of “first class” CPR following a heart attack. 

Gurol was named as one of the three new representatives joining Community Pharmacy England's (CPE) committee as the  “additional interim independent” committee representative last month.