Latest news with #LiverpoolUniversityHospitalsNHSFoundationTrust
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Subtle warning signs of deforming 'medieval disease' that's hit Josie Gibson and is on the rise in the UK
Josie Gibson has revealed she is now suffering from the 'medieval disease' gout after filming a new travel show. Gout is a type of arthritis. It occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood and causes inflammation in the joints. It was historically known as the 'disease of kings' due to its association with monarchs and overindulging on rich foods. Gibson, 40, said she diagnosed after filming Channel 5 travelogue Around The World In First Class where she sampled the delights of travelling in style. But after filming the presenter said her toes had been hurting her, recalling: 'I thought gout was only for old men but I have been living quite a lavish life. 'Before I filmed this show, I caught a lot of flights, I drank a lot of champagne, I ate a lot of rich food and I had little sleep. That's how I ended up getting gout.' Gibson had been enjoying the enviable lifestyle of drinking champagne and tucking in to rich food in Michelin-starred restaurants. Blood tests gave the shock diagnosis, after spending weeks living in luxury. Gout is often associated with wealthy historical figures, including Henry VIII and Queen Victoria, who were known to enjoy alcohol and red meats, both of which are high in purines which cause the illness. Gibson confirmed she is now gout free after returning to a less lavish diet. 'As soon as I stopped catching all the flights and started drinking a bit more water and less champagne, it levelled itself out,' she said. Gout occurs when the body has an inflammatory reaction to urate crystals that form in and around joints. It is diagnosed by measuring uric acid levels in the blood. Flare-ups can be connected to certain foods – primarily those high in the compound purine, which, when digested by the body, produces urate. These include red meat, offal, sugary drinks, alcohol, cheese and certain vegetables such as asparagus and spinach. It was believed to be triggered by overindulging on rich foods and alcohol. But research now shows anyone can get the disease – though men are four times as likely to as women. Symptoms include a sudden severe pain in a joint – usually the big toe, but it can also occur in the feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or knees. Another sign is hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint. While easily treated in the modern era with drugs like painkillers or steroids, alongside diet changes it can cause long term problems if left untreated. These include damage to joints and hard lumps, called tophi, developing under the skin in certain parts of the body, including the ears, fingers or elbows. In recent decades, there has been an increase in gout cases linked to wider availability of high fat, sugar and salt foods which has worried experts. Gout is estimated to affect 1.5million people in the UK. And cases are on the rise, with the number surging by about four per cent each year. Data obtained via Freedom of Information laws found Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recorded 5,864 cases of gout in 2023 — most cases recorded by any NHS trust and a 960 per cent increase on figures recorded in 2019. When taken at a citywide level the figure is equivalent to one in 100 Liverpudlians now having gout. University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust was another area of major gout growth with a rise of 219 per cent in cases over the period, followed by South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust which saw a 121 per cent rise in cases.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patient devastated by hysterectomy without informed consent
Multiple failings led to a patient with Crohn's disease having a hysterectomy without giving informed consent, an ombudsman has found. The woman, in her early 40s, said it has left her feeling like a "shadow" of her former self, as the procedure means she will not be able to have children. Complaints were made by the patient, who is known as Ms A and is from north Wales, against Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. Carol Shillabeer, CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, apologised for the patient's "poor experience". 'Long way to go' for NHS board's special measures Busy hospital car parks make patients late for appointments Over the course of three years, the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales said there had been "serious failings" that had caused the patient a "significant injustice". The ombudsman, Michelle Morris, has called for a review to be carried out by Betsi Cadwaladr, which commissioned the care, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation, which carried out the treatment. Care for Ms A began in 2016 when, following a history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease), she had her large bowel removed at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. She was then referred to Liverpool University Hospital for further treatment in 2019. In 2022, following three years of various tests and treatments, Ms A, who has no children, underwent further surgery at Liverpool Women's Hospital. During this, a total hysterectomy was performed - a procedure where the womb is removed resulting in the inability to become pregnant. According to Ms A, it was not until the morning of the surgery that she was made aware that a hysterectomy may be performed as part of the procedure. The ombudsman found Ms A had not given informed consent for the extensive surgery, which she described as a "serious failing". "Patients need to have proper time to understand the procedure and its possible consequences and the concern I have following is that she really didn't have those conversations before she was asked to sign a consent form, you know, literally at the last minute before she went into surgery," she said. "She should have been warned that it was possible that during the surgery they would have to perform a full hysterectomy, and that's obviously a very serious possible consequence. "In the end it did happen, so that's a serious failing on the part of that English health trust. "The impact on Ms A both physically and psychologically has been significant. Ms A has been left devastated as she wanted to have children, and she grieves the loss of that opportunity." As part of her evidence given to the ombudsman, Ms A said the treatment had left her feeling "a shadow" of her former self. She added she now "avoids people" for fear of "bursting into tears" when they ask her about her health. The ombudsman's report also raised concerns over the way in which Betsi Cadwaladr health board had monitored the care Ms A was receiving in England after staff had commissioned it. "This lady is a patient of theirs (Betsi Cadwaladr health board). She's a resident in their area, and they are responsible for her health care," the ombudsman added. "They don't divest themselves of that responsibility when they refer a patient to another trust, as happened in this case." Marianne Radcliffe is chief executive of Crohn's and Colitis UK, a charity which supports people diagnosed with these diseases. She said they hear regularly from women whose pain is "minimised or dismissed". "It's awful to hear about Ms A's experience and the repeated failings in her care," she said. "Many women living with Crohn's and Colitis have concerns about the impact of the conditions on their ability to have a family. "This awful case highlights the importance of services and specialities working together. "It is only by listening to women and remembering we are all more than a collection of symptoms that everyone will get the care they deserve." Dr Jim Gardner, group chief medical officer for NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, which runs the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital, said: "On behalf of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, I apologise for the failings identified in the report and I acknowledge the profound effects they have had, and continue to have, on the patient and her family. "This was a very complex case involving multiple clinicians and departments across several hospitals. "We have already made improvements, and we will ensure that the lessons learned from this are shared with our clinical teams to prevent something like this happening again." Carol Shillabeer, CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said it had already made improvements and will learn from this case. "It is essential for the health of our population, we work with other health boards and trusts," she said. "It is clear we need to improve our oversight arrangements for these commissioned services and we fully accept the Ombudsman's findings."
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Betsi Cadwaladr patient given hysterectomy without informed consent
Multiple failings led to a patient with Crohn's disease having a hysterectomy without giving informed consent, an ombudsman has found. The woman, in her early 40s, said it has left her feeling like a "shadow" of her former self, as the procedure means she will not be able to have were made by the patient, who is known as Ms A and is from north Wales, against Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Shillabeer, CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, apologised for the patient's "poor experience". Over the course of three years, the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales said there had been "serious failings" that had caused the patient a "significant injustice".The ombudsman, Michelle Morris, has called for a review to be carried out by Betsi Cadwaladr, which commissioned the care, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation, which carried out the treatment. Care for Ms A began in 2016 when, following a history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease), she had her large bowel removed at Ysbyty Glan was then referred to Liverpool University Hospital for further treatment in 2022, following three years of various tests and treatments, Ms A, who has no children, underwent further surgery at Liverpool Women's this, a total hysterectomy was performed - a procedure where the womb is removed resulting in the inability to become to Ms A, it was not until the morning of the surgery that she was made aware that a hysterectomy may be performed as part of the ombudsman found Ms A had not given informed consent for the extensive surgery, which she described as a "serious failing"."Patients need to have proper time to understand the procedure and its possible consequences and the concern I have following is that she really didn't have those conversations before she was asked to sign a consent form, you know, literally at the last minute before she went into surgery," she said. "She should have been warned that it was possible that during the surgery they would have to perform a full hysterectomy, and that's obviously a very serious possible consequence."In the end it did happen, so that's a serious failing on the part of that English health trust."The impact on Ms A both physically and psychologically has been significant. Ms A has been left devastated as she wanted to have children, and she grieves the loss of that opportunity."As part of her evidence given to the ombudsman, Ms A said the treatment had left her feeling "a shadow" of her former added she now "avoids people" for fear of "bursting into tears" when they ask her about her health. The ombudsman's report also raised concerns over the way in which Betsi Cadwaladr health board had monitored the care Ms A was receiving in England after staff had commissioned it."This lady is a patient of theirs (Betsi Cadwaladr health board). She's a resident in their area, and they are responsible for her health care," the ombudsman added."They don't divest themselves of that responsibility when they refer a patient to another trust, as happened in this case."Marianne Radcliffe is chief executive of Crohn's and Colitis UK, a charity which supports people diagnosed with these said they hear regularly from women whose pain is "minimised or dismissed"."It's awful to hear about Ms A's experience and the repeated failings in her care," she said."Many women living with Crohn's and Colitis have concerns about the impact of the conditions on their ability to have a family."This awful case highlights the importance of services and specialities working together. "It is only by listening to women and remembering we are all more than a collection of symptoms that everyone will get the care they deserve."Dr Jim Gardner, group chief medical officer for NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, which runs the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital, said: "On behalf of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, I apologise for the failings identified in the report and I acknowledge the profound effects they have had, and continue to have, on the patient and her family."This was a very complex case involving multiple clinicians and departments across several hospitals. "We have already made improvements, and we will ensure that the lessons learned from this are shared with our clinical teams to prevent something like this happening again." Carol Shillabeer, CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said it had already made improvements and will learn from this case. "It is essential for the health of our population, we work with other health boards and trusts," she said."It is clear we need to improve our oversight arrangements for these commissioned services and we fully accept the Ombudsman's findings."
