Thirsk runner left disabled after suffering heatstroke during run
The trust's executive medical director, Dr Shaz Wahid, said: "We are sorry that we did not keep Luke in hospital for longer when he arrived with us showing signs of heatstroke after taking part in the Great North Run."Although it is not clear whether this would have changed his overall health outcome, there is no doubt that we should have monitored him for a longer period of time and for that we wholeheartedly apologise."Dr Wahid said steps had since been taken to "prevent this from happening again".
Heatstroke happens when the body's core temperature is rising too high.Symptoms include a body temperature of over 40C, fainting or losing consciousness, a seizure or fit, severe difficulty breathing and skin that is cold to the touch.According to the NHS, heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency. What to do if you think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke
Mr Oldfield, a Leeds Beckett University PhD student, said he was given intravenous fluids at the hospital but was soon sent home without safety advice on signs and symptoms to look out for.Just nine days later, he was hospitalised with acute liver failure during a study trip to Chicago and was airlifted to Detroit for an emergency liver transplant.He later required surgery to treat swelling on his brain and compartment syndrome, a condition which cut off blood flow to his legs, and also suffered kidney damage."When I came round from my surgeries, the gravity of what happened started to hit," he said."I awoke a totally different person and one who couldn't do anything for himself."
'Life-changing'
Now a wheelchair user, he continues to experience difficulties with speech, writing, memory, fatigue, and co-ordination.Despite the challenges, Mr Oldfield recommenced his studies and was recently awarded a doctorate."I know my life hasn't turned out as I thought but I'm so grateful to be alive and want to make the most of it," the now 31-year-old said."I just hope that by sharing my story I can not only warn others of the dangers of heatstroke but also inspire people who may be going through a life-changing event."
Tracy Tai, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Mr Oldfield, said she had never come across a heatstroke case as serious as his.She said: "It's been accepted by the trust that they have been responsible and the question of whether it's caused all of his injuries is currently still in dispute."The legal case against the hospital trust remains ongoing.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Warning issued to patients after using weight-loss jabs
Health chiefs have raised concerns about patients regaining weight after stopping popular weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, calling for robust support to prevent them from piling on the pounds again. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), the UK's health watchdog, highlighted research indicating that many individuals regain weight if not adequately supported after ceasing treatment. Nice stressed that those coming off the drugs should be offered "structured advice and follow-up support" to mitigate weight gain. This guidance specifically applies to individuals receiving these treatments through the NHS. However, an estimated 1.5 million people in the UK are currently using weight-loss injections, with the vast majority paying privately. These individuals will not be eligible for NHS support once their treatment concludes. Over the next three years, approximately 240,000 people deemed to have the "greatest need" are anticipated to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, via the NHS. The new 'quality standard' from Nice says that NHS patients should be monitored for at least a year after they complete treatment, and extra support should be offered if needed. It emphasises building 'long-term behavioural habits, use self-monitoring tools, and draw on wider support – from online communities to family-led interventions and local activities'. This standard, a type of guidance for the health services in England and Wales, sets out expectations for health providers including how they should support patients. 'Successful weight management doesn't end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme,' said Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice. 'We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they've made. 'This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a 'sickness service' to a genuine health service focused on prevention.' Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice's Quality Standards Advisory Committee, added: 'Weight management is a long-term journey, not a short-term fix. 'The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines or completing behavioural interventions can help prevent weight regain and enable people to experience lasting benefits. 'We've seen excellent examples of services that already provide comprehensive discharge planning and ongoing support. 'This quality standard will help ensure all healthcare providers adopt these best practices, giving every person the best chance of maintaining their weight management success over the long term. 'This standard ensures healthcare services are equipped to provide that essential ongoing support.' Commenting, Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ' Pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wrap around support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight. 'We know that although medication can be effective in speeding up weight loss in some people, it is not a silver bullet and patients need to make long term lifestyle changes to make their weight loss sustainable. 'The current NHS roll out of weight loss treatment is very small, with only a handful of patients receiving it and it will continue to be the case that the vast majority of eligible patients will be seen by their pharmacy.' Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling obesity – what works for one patient will likely not work for another and, as with any medication, weight-loss drugs do not come without risk. 'It's also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication. As such, this is important and sensible guidance from Nice. 'As a college, we've been clear that whilst weight loss medications have significant potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight, they mustn't be seen as a 'silver bullet' and ensuring access to sufficient 'wraparound' services – particularly for when patients come off their medication – will be key to optimal health outcomes.'
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Urgent warning over virus dangerous to newborns as cases surge abroad
Health experts say the UK should brace for a surge in a potentially serious virus following a record number of cases in Australia. NHS officials said that the Australian winter is often a good predictor of how viruses will spread in England. In Australia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases have surged in recent months, and officials have said that cases have been steadily increasing in England since the start of 2025. NHS England has urged pregnant women to get the vaccine, which protects against RSV, in order to protect their newborn babies. The virus is a leading cause of death among babies and the main cause of hospital admissions for children. Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for NHS England, said that while for most adults, RSV 'only causes mild, cold-like symptoms, for older adults and young children, it can lead to serious breathing problems that can end up in hospitalisation'. 'Getting vaccinated while pregnant is the best way to protect your baby from the moment they are born, and now is the time for mums to act, to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, when there tends to be more bugs circulating.' Pregnant women can get the jab from 28 weeks of pregnancy onwards through their maternity services or GP surgery. Older adults aged 75-79 are also eligible for the jab, and NHS England will start inviting people to come forward in the next few weeks. Symptoms of an RSV infection NHS RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds, but some people have a high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus, including babies and adults over the age of 75. In babies, RSV is a common cause of a type of chest infection called bronchiolitis. Last week, the UK Health Security Agency published data showing the efficacy of the vaccine. It said that the jab for pregnant women can prevent 72 per cent of hospital admissions for their babies. And the vaccine is 82 per cent effective at preventing hospital admissions for RSV among older adults, UKHSA said.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Wegovy and Mounjaro patients should be monitored for at least a YEAR after stopping drugs, watchdog says
Patients should be monitored for a year after stopping weight loss jabs to prevent them piling the pounds back on, new guidelines say. The drugs' watchdog is concerned about the number of people regaining weight after coming off the likes of Wegovy and Mounjaro. They must now be offered 'structured advice and follow-up support' to help them maintain healthy lifestyles for the long-term, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said. Its guidance applies to everyone who obtains the treatments through the NHS in England and Wales - and healthcare workers are expected to comply immediately. An estimated 1.5 million people are taking weight loss jabs in the UK but the vast majority are paying around £200 a month to obtain them privately. Some 240,000 people with 'greatest need' are set to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, through the NHS over the next three years. The new 'quality standard' from Nice tells health providers they should monitor NHS patients for at least a year after they complete treatment and offer extra tailored support if needed. It says: 'This could include practical advice from programmes like NHS Better Health on changing daily habits or making adjustments at home or work to avoid slipping back.' The guidance emphasises the need to establish 'long-term behavioural habits' and suggests the use of regular check-ins, community support groups, local activity classes, and help developing 'sustainable routines'. Studies found people injected with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, lost 14 per cent of their body weight over 72 weeks. And those taking Mounjaro, known as the 'king kong' of weight-loss jabs, lost 20 per cent of their body weight over the the same period. But research also shows that many people regain weight after stopping treatment if they do not get the right help. Health officials say this can negatively affect their physical and mental health. Professor Jonathan Benger, deputy chief executive and chief medical officer at Nice, said: 'Successful weight management doesn't end when medication stops or when someone completes a behavioural programme. 'We know that the transition period after treatment is crucial, and people need structured support to maintain the positive changes they've made. 'This new standard makes sure services provide that vital continuity of care, and it supports the NHS 10 Year Plan to shift from a 'sickness service' to a genuine health service focused on prevention.' In England, 29 per cent of adults are obese and 64 per cent or overweight or obese. Obesity places extra pressure on the NHS and wider economy by increasing the risk type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and musculoskeletal problems. Estimates suggest obesity costs the NHS £11.4 billion a year, with a wider economic impact of £74.3 billion due to lost productivity, unemployment and increased demand for social care. Dr Rebecca Payne, chair of Nice's Quality Standards Advisory Committee, added: 'Weight management is a long-term journey, not a short-term fix. 'The evidence is clear that advice and support for maintaining weight after stopping medicines or completing behavioural interventions can help prevent weight regain and enable people to experience lasting benefits. 'We've seen excellent examples of services that already provide comprehensive discharge planning and ongoing support. 'This quality standard will help ensure all healthcare providers adopt these best practices, giving every person the best chance of maintaining their weight management success over the long term. 'This standard ensures healthcare services are equipped to provide that essential ongoing support.' Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'There is no one-size fits all approach to tackling obesity - what works for one patient will likely not work for another, and as with any medication, weight-loss drugs do not come without risk. 'It's also the case that patients will likely need support to sustain their weight loss once they stop taking the medication. 'As such, this is important and sensible guidance from NICE. 'As a College we've been clear that whilst weight loss medications have significant potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight, they mustn't be seen as a 'silver bullet', and ensuring access to sufficient 'wraparound" services – particularly for when patients come off their medication – will be key to optimal health outcomes. 'We need to see a greater focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don't require a medical intervention later.' Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'Pharmacies take their responsibilities seriously to provide full wrap around support to patients trying to achieve a healthy weight. 'We know that although medication can be effective in speeding up weight loss in some people, it is not a silver bullet and patients need to make long term lifestyle changes to make their weight loss sustainable. 'The current NHS roll out of weight loss treatment is very small, with only a handful of patients receiving it and it will continue to be the case that the vast majority of eligible patients will be seen by their pharmacy.'
