Latest news with #GreatNorthRun
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Heatstroke warning as runner left in wheelchair after being let go from hospital early
Luke Oldfield suffered life changing disabilities after he collapsed at the finish line in 2019 - he was taken to hospital but was sent home hours later, and soon suffered multi-organ failure A Great North Run competitor was left in a wheelchair after being discharged from hospital too early with heatstroke. Luke Oldfield suffered life changing disabilities after he collapsed at the finish line of the run in Newcastle in 2019, when he was 25 years old. He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields but was sent home hours later. He suffered multi-organ failure on a study trip to the US, and a severe brain injury, resulting in permanent mobility, speech, and vision impairments. Now 31, Luke said: 'Before all this, I was independent and active and was concentrating on my PhD and the future. I don't remember the end of the Great North Run, just coming round in the tent afterwards. I knew I was in a bad way but when I was sent home from hospital that night I just trusted what I was told. The days afterwards I wasn't myself. I was tired and aching all over. I don't really remember much after that and getting to hospital in the States." South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has since apologised and said staff should have monitored him for longer. 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." Steps had since been taken to "prevent this from happening again". Luke took part in the Great North Run to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer. A Leeds Beckett University PhD student, he was given intravenous fluids at the hospital. But he was sent home without safety advice on signs and symptoms to look out for. 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 underwent an operation 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." He continues to experience difficulties with speech, writing, memory, fatigue, and coordination. Luke 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," said Luke, now 31. "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." After six weeks in hospital, he was flown back to the UK, spending nearly two years in hospital and a rehabilitation unit. Luke, who was forced to put his PhD on hold, has been left wheelchair-bound and suffers from permanent speech and vision problems. He instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the ongoing specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires. Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency, according to NHS guidelines. Tracy Tai, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Luke, said: 'While the signs of heat exhaustion often pass, if they don't they can turn into heat stroke. "It is a medical emergency and can result in life-changing complications, such as in Lukes's case. 'The last few years have been incredibly traumatic for Luke and his family. Understandably they've had many questions and concerns about what happened, especially around the decision to discharge him from hospital on the evening of the Great North Run. 'Worrying issues in Luke's A&E care have been admitted. While Luke has shown great determination to try and not be defined by his injuries, he still faces an uncertain future and many challenges. 'We're determined to ensure Luke has access to the specialist life-long support and therapies he requires to maximise his recovery. 'We urge everyone to be aware of the dangers of heat stroke and the need for care standards to be upheld at all times.' Luke remained in a rehabilitation centre until September 2021. Luke was unable to return to his previous home as it was unsuitable and had to sell his home to purchase and adapt a bungalow for his needs.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Thirsk runner left disabled after suffering heatstroke during run
A Great North Run competitor was left with life-changing disabilities after being discharged from hospital too early when he developed Oldfield collapsed at the finish line of the run in Newcastle in 2019 and was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in South his condition, the 25-year-old from Thirsk was sent home hours later and soon after suffered multi-organ failure and a severe brain injury, resulting in permanent mobility, speech, and vision Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has since apologised and said staff should have monitored him for longer. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Overweight Brits to get awarded shop vouchers for upping step count and eating healthily
The new measures are part of Labour's 10 Year Health Plan set to be unveiled on Thursday WEIGH TO GO Overweight Brits to get awarded shop vouchers for upping step count and eating healthily Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OVERWEIGHT Brits will get shop vouchers to help shed the pounds. An NHS plan will see users awarded points for upping their step count and eating healthily. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Wes Streeting said: 'We're bringing together tech, business, the NHS, and citizens to get Britain moving and helping drive down waiting lists' Credit: Getty They can then be traded for vouchers, with discounts at supermarkets and coffee shops. Details are still being finalised but it is expected users will link health data on their smartphones to the NHS app. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'We're bringing together tech, business, the NHS, and citizens to get Britain moving and helping drive down waiting lists. 'During a cost-of-living crisis, we're not going to make food more expensive or ban treats — we're not the fun police. 'Our approach is more nudge than nanny.' The new measures are part of Labour's 10 Year Health Plan set to be unveiled on Thursday. Supermarkets will be forced to promote healthy products such as fruit and vegetables instead of chocolate and crisps. Sir Brendan Foster, long-distance Olympian and founder of the Great North Run, will also help in a new campaign to get people exercising. Sir Brendan Foster, long-distance Olympian and founder of the Great North Run, will also help in a new campaign to get people exercising. The Government says reducing daily intake by just 50 calories could lift 340,000 children and two million adults out of obesity. Treating obesity-related conditions costs the NHS £11.4billion a year. Mr Streeting added: 'If we don't tackle the rising tide of costs and demand on the NHS, then we won't have an NHS much longer.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Couple in charity run challenge for son's hospice
A husband and wife are to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for a hospice that helps care for their son. Susie and Chris Seymour are training for the September charity run in Newcastle upon Tyne to fundraise for Hope House Children's Hospice which supports their eight-year-old son Will. Will has an underdeveloped brain causing spasms and a severe visual impairment, his parents said. Not only will the couple, who live near Bridgnorth, be running on their wedding anniversary, they said it would also be their first night away from their son which would be quite emotional. The hospice has helped the family after Will's birth, also offering respite care, prompting them to want to "give something back". Scans after his birth showed his brain had not fully developed, which resulted in him having infantile spasms and the couple being introduced to Hope House which helps families living in Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales. "We have been with Hope House for such a long time and there really is just nothing like it," said Mrs Seymour, 41, who works as a specialist nurse in an adult hospice, said. "The nursing and care we have had there has been absolutely incredible and we have been doing what we can to raise money and give something back to the charity that has helped us so much." She said respite care at the hospice meant she could "immerse" herself in enjoying being Will's mum and "not thinking when his next meds are due". Mrs Seymour said she had been training and had joined Bridgnorth Running Club. So far, she said she was able to run 10km. "This [the race] will be the first night away we've had from Will since he was born, which will be quite emotional," she added. "He will be staying at Hope House as we cross the finish line which I'm sure its going to be quite mix of emotions." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Couple on fundraising walk for hospice Girl chosen as face of hospice's Christmas campaign Hope House Hospice
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bridgnorth couple in charity run challenge for son's hospice
A husband and wife are to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for a hospice that helps care for their and Chris Seymour are training for the September charity run in Newcastle upon Tyne to fundraise for Hope House Children's Hospice which supports their eight-year-old son has an underdeveloped brain causing spasms and a severe visual impairment, his parents only will the couple, who live near Bridgnorth, be running on their wedding anniversary, they said it would also be their first night away from their son which would be quite emotional. The hospice has helped the family after Will's birth, also offering respite care, prompting them to want to "give something back".Scans after his birth showed his brain had not fully developed, which resulted in him having infantile spasms and the couple being introduced to Hope House which helps families living in Shropshire, Cheshire and Wales."We have been with Hope House for such a long time and there really is just nothing like it," said Mrs Seymour, 41, who works as a specialist nurse in an adult hospice, said."The nursing and care we have had there has been absolutely incredible and we have been doing what we can to raise money and give something back to the charity that has helped us so much."She said respite care at the hospice meant she could "immerse" herself in enjoying being Will's mum and "not thinking when his next meds are due". Mrs Seymour said she had been training and had joined Bridgnorth Running Club. So far, she said she was able to run 10km."This [the race] will be the first night away we've had from Will since he was born, which will be quite emotional," she added."He will be staying at Hope House as we cross the finish line which I'm sure its going to be quite mix of emotions." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
