Former Patient at Kate Middleton’s Hospital Details Recovery After Abdominal Surgery: ‘It’s a Bit Scary at First’

Kate Middleton is in good hands at a London clinic, according to a former patient who had abdominal surgery at a private hospital last year.

The Princess of Wales, 42, is recovering at a well-known hospital near Harley Street in London’s Marylebone district, where Kensington Palace announced last week that she had “planned abdominal surgery”. A former patient who had abdominal surgery at a clinic in London tells PEOPLE exclusively what it was like and how the facility uniquely helped him on his way to recovery.

“I had a really good experience. I think experience is always dominated by how well your operation goes and that the best surgeons are associated with the London Clinic, who are leaders in their field in both research and surgery. I had a great surgeon, everything was very efficient; I was on the operating table for two hours after I went in,” an insider told PEOPLE about his treatment in June 2023.

The London Clinic is the largest independent private hospital in the UK and can treat approximately 155 different conditions. The facility employs an extensive care team of over 1,000 nurses, clinical and support staff, which a former patient says makes a big difference.

“The nurses are just amazing, incredibly attentive to your needs. The hospital has a very good staff and everyone seemed very knowledgeable, very responsive and caring. Physiotherapists [physical therapists] they help you recover and get back on your feet incredibly,” he says. “It takes a lot of patience after abdominal surgery, and it’s a bit scary at first.”

Kate Middleton at the opening of the new Evelina London Children’s Surgery Unit in London on December 5, 2023.

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Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that Princess Kate had “successful” abdominal surgery a day earlier, adding that she is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days before heading home to continue her recovery. The former patient says the timeline mirrors his own experience and that he had to leave “a little while ago.” When he had to come back after getting an infection, “they took great care of me,” he says.

While at the clinic last summer, an insider told PEOPLE that he was struck by the nurses’ dedication to those they care for.

Police officers stand guard outside a London clinic on January 18, after Kensington Palace announced that Kate Middleton had undergone surgery there.

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“Doctors come and go, but nurses are the backbone of that hospital. They are amazing and I don’t have enough good words to say about them,” he says. “I would be sweating in bed in the middle of the night making my bed completely wet and they would come and change it all in minutes. They are so caring and made you feel like nothing was too much trouble.”

During his recovery, the former patient says the “amazing” physiotherapists taught him tricks to aid his recovery and the stretchers “make you laugh”. Children are not allowed to visit the London clinic without the matron’s permission, which insiders say is due to negative pressure to keep infections at bay.

Prince George, Princess Kate and King Charles leave St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on December 25, 2023.

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“One day my son showed up with my wife because we didn’t know the rule, and they kindly made an exception and let him come to see me, but I think it was very scary for him, so I’m not sure I would do it again,” says o experience.

The insider says he discovered his recovery was slow, even though his initial health was good.

“Even a few weeks after the operation, I would feel exhausted after the slightest work or walk. Recovery can be quite slow. I am in good shape and active, and it took me several months to return to even a light swim or a proper walk,” he says. “I had surgery last June and I’m completely healthy now, but it took a while. It’s a pretty big operation.”

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The insider says his room was “lovely and big” and a spare bed was brought in for his wife.

“The level of service was excellent,” he says, adding that the food was particularly memorable.

“The food is good. It’s a la carte, so if you want to change something, they’re pretty good. At first, I was on a strict diet, but when I had visitors, they easily ordered whatever they wanted from the regular menu,” says a former patient. My dad had a tuna sandwich and a cup of tea.”

The London clinic has “three or four different menus” for any diet, from curries, salads and soups to a list of “low residue” options that are easy to digest, he says.

“It’s very plain food that’s very easy to digest, like plain rice, grilled salmon, grilled chicken, bananas, plain mashed potatoes — no junk food. Dessert was jelly or cream, really kindergarten food! I think the first thing I ate was clear chicken soup; it’s a very restrictive diet,” he recalls of what he ate during his stay. “There were two levels of the low-residue menu, and you work your way up to the normal menu. They all know what you should eat.”

The clinic says their catering team uses fresh produce, local ingredients, sustainably sourced fish and more. The Craft Guild of Chefs has named head chef Paul O’Brien in a cohort of “culinary heroes” for his work during the 2021 pandemic.

“Everything is nicely cooked and arrived on time, and it arrives on a tray with a silver cloth to keep it warm. There was a big big TV, so I watched a lot of sports,” says the former patient. “Everyone was so helpful, gentle and attentive which made the whole experience so much easier. I could call for whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it. If I suddenly got hungry and wanted some salmon and rice, they would make it for me.”

Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall at Sandringham on December 25, 2023.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Palace sources tell PEOPLE that Princess Kate is “doing well” after a “successful” operation at a London clinic last Tuesday. PEOPLE realize that the problem was not cancer. The Princess of Wales was last seen on Christmas Day when she stepped out for the royal family’s annual walk to St Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham.

“Based on current medical advice, it is unlikely that she will return to public duties before Easter,” Kensington Palace said in part in a statement announcing Princess Kate’s surgery. “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her children; and her desire to keep her personal medical information private.”

Prince William was seen leaving a London clinic last Thursday and is expected to postpone some engagements to support his family during this time. The Prince and Princess of Wales are parents to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, who recently returned to the classroom after the holidays.

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Source: HIS Education