Latest news with #EastKentHospitals
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Woman mistakes cancer for menopause, gynaecologist confirms symptoms can be similar
A 58-year-old woman from Canterbury is sharing her life-changing experience to raise awareness about the importance of recognising abnormal bleeding as a potential symptom of uterine cancer. Dawn Willis, like many women, initially assumed her postmenopausal bleeding was a normal part of menopause. However, it turned out to be a warning sign of something far more serious. For nearly a year, Dawn ignored her symptoms, believing they were linked to hormonal changes. 'So much happens to your body during menopause that I thought the bleeding was normal,' she explained in an Instagram post. But as time went on, her belly started to swell, and her family urged her to seek medical help. That decision ultimately saved her life. Doctors diagnosed her with womb cancer (endometrial cancer), one of the most common cancers affecting postmenopausal women. If left untreated, it can spread to other organs and become life-threatening. 'I'm so angry with myself for ignoring it,' Dawn admitted. 'If I had waited even a few more months, I don't think I'd be here today.' A post shared by East Kent Hospitals (@ekhuft) According to Dr Rubina Shanawaz Z, Senior Consultant in Uro-Gynaecology, Gynaec-Oncology, and Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospital, the symptoms of menopause and womb cancer can sometimes overlap, 'making diagnosis challenging.' 'Menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes, tend to be intermittent, whereas cancer symptoms are persistent and often worsen over time,' she explains. Common warning signs of cancer in menopausal women include: Dr Shanawaz emphasises the importance of paying attention to persistent symptoms and seeking medical advice. 'Many women assume postmenopausal bleeding is harmless, but it's always worth getting checked. Early detection and diagnosis significantly improve cancer treatment outcomes.' Regular health check-ups, awareness of family medical history, and open discussions with a healthcare provider can make a crucial difference in catching womb cancer at an early stage. Dawn's message is clear: don't ignore unusual bleeding—your life may depend on it. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Missed opportunities' to prevent death of baby Archie Squires
A baby boy "almost certainly would not have died when he did" if his rare heart condition had been diagnosed, an inquest has Squires suffered heart failure just days after his first birthday and died in November 2023 after more than 10 visits to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Clarke, area coroner for North East Kent, concluded that there was "no doubt" that an earlier diagnosis of a congenital heart defect would have "altered the outcome" of his Clarke also echoed a report by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which highlighted "missed opportunities" that could have prevented his death.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Doctor at Margate hospital learnt 'big lesson' after baby death
A doctor has said he learnt a "big lesson to be more compassionate" after a baby's death at a Kent hospital. Archie Squire died of a rare heart condition just days after his first birthday following repeated visits to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Ravi Kumar, a paediatric registrar who works at the hospital, said at an inquest into the one-year-old's death it had been an "extraordinary case". "This has been difficult for all of us," he said. "I am sorry." A report by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust found that during Archie's treatment opportunities to diagnose him appropriately, which could have prevented his death, were "missed".The trust said it offered its "heartfelt condolences to Archie's family.""We will work with the coroner to give the family answers," it added. 'Cold and pale' Archie died in the early hours of 23 November 2023 following two cardiac parents had made repeated visits to hospital over his life, concerned about Archie's breathing, constipation and vomiting. Dr Kumar, who saw Archie at the start of his night shift on 22 November, said his first impression was the toddler was "not well". "He was irritable," he said. "He was cold and pale." The inquest, held at North East Kent Coroner's Court in Maidstone, heard Archie's condition had deteriorated in the early hours of the morning. "He was not responding," Dr Kumar said, adding he had conveyed his concerns to the consultant and brought Archie from the ward for court heard that hospital staff were treating Archie with a "working diagnosis" of bronchiolitis – an infection of the respiratory asked by the barrister acting for Archie's family, Emily Raynor, if he should have considered alternative causes for the baby's illness and multiple hospital visits, Dr Kumar said he "did not consider it that night". Archie's mother Lauren Parrish, from Dover, recalled her son being labelled a "mystery child" because doctors were not sure what was wrong with family has previously said in a joint statement that "fundamental failings" remained at the hospital that were putting children and babies at risk. "Parents are being ignored and opportunities are still being missed," they added. The inquest started on 19 May and is set to last six days.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Baby death East Kent NHS trust reaches 'turning point'
Two maternity units in Kent have shown signs of improvements three years after a damning independent review found up to 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care, a report has Care Quality Commission (CQC) report rated maternity services at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate as good, two years after they were downgraded to CQC said "significant improvements" had been made at both units to safety, leadership, culture, the environment and staffing Fletcher, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said the report was "an important milestone in our continuing work to improve our services". Kaye Wilson, chief midwife for the South East at NHS England, said: "This report marks a turning point for services at East Kent and is the result of the commitment, determination and sheer hard work of midwives, obstetricians and the whole maternity team."Only one maternity unit in south-east England received a better CQC rating, Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, which was changes to the classification of the two Kent units came after an unannounced inspection in Coleman, CQC's deputy director of operations in Kent, said: "We found significant improvements and a better quality service for women, people using the service and their babies."This turnaround in ratings across both services demonstrates what can be achieved with strong and capable leaders who focus on an inclusive and positive culture." The CQC report said concerns remained about the size of labour rooms, which were not always big enough to include essential equipment like infant resuscitation Hayes, chief nursing and midwifery officer at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, said the improvements were "important for our families, staff and our communities".The trust's overall rating and the overall rating for both hospitals remain unchanged, and rated as requires said it planned to start a rebuild of the maternity unit in Margate later this year.
