Latest news with #NHSWales
New York Post
a day ago
- Health
- New York Post
Mother, 38, has ‘breast transplant' after cancer diagnosis: ‘I had never seen or heard of such a procedure'
A British breast cancer survivor has undergone what may be a first of its kind surgery: a breast transplant, using her own healthy breast tissue. And it was all her idea. Nicola Purdie, 38, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, after which she had five months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction. When her cancer returned a couple of year later — in only one breast — her treatment plan looked quite a bit different. 'This is not run of the mill mastectomy we're talking about,' her breast surgeon, Dr. Reza Arya, told the BBC. 4 Nicola Purdie, 38, has undergone what may be a first of its kind surgery: a breast transplant, using her own healthy breast tissue. NHS Wales Purdie's first bout of cancer was also only in her right breast, but due to family history, she decided to err on the safe side with a double mastectomy. Her reconstructive surgery involved a DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap, in which skin and tissue are taken from the stomach. The upside of that procedure is the breasts are still 'natural' — no implants that need to be changed, and they grown and shrink with weight loss. In 2024, she was healthy and five months pregnant with her second child when she discovered a lump in her right breast — the cancer was back. Testing was limited due to her pregnancy, though she did have a lumpectomy to remove what they knew for sure was cancer. After she delivered her son early, further tests confirmed that she actually had several cancerous tumors, both in the skin and in a lymph node. 'The skin was the only bit of the breast tissue left after my previous reconstruction,' she told the Swansea Bay University Health Board. 4 Purdie was pregnant with her second child when she realized her breast cancer had returned. Nic Purdie / Facebook Purdie underwent chemotherapy again, all while caring for her newborn. 'I finished that in February this year, and then I had what we call the 'crazy idea,'' she said. For the next step in her treatment plan, doctors suggested removal of the entire breast that was infected with cancer, as well as LD flap reconstruction. The latissimus dorsi — a flat muscle that spans across part of the back and over to the side — would be swung around to replace the removed breast tissue. But Purdie didn't love that approach. For one, her aunt had had the procedure and the recovery was rough. It could also limit her future movement. 'All these matters are now clear to us, but at the time the idea was so out of the box that I needed to gather my thoughts.' Dr. Reza Arya For another, it would leave her flat-chested on one side, because there would not be enough skin to accommodate an implant. Purdie wanted symmetry, so that would mean removing her left breast as well. So she asked her doctor: What if they did another DIEP flap like she had done before, but this time used tissue from her healthy left breast to reconstruct the right? 4 Purdie came up with the idea to use healthy breast tissue from one breast to reconstruct the other. Nic Purdie / Facebook 'I remember [Dr. Reza Arya] sitting back in his chair,' Purdie said. 'I could see the cogs whirring.' That's because the idea was new to Arya — and the medical field in general. 'All these matters are now clear to us, but at the time the idea was so out of the box that I needed to gather my thoughts,' he said. 'I was analyzing what the benefits and disadvantages could be before even thinking if it would be technically feasible.' 'I had never seen or heard of such a procedure being talked about or published.' He had conversations with other doctors, but no one was quite sure if it would work. 'We didn't know if the vessels were still running, whether the flap needed to be detached to be transferred and, if so, whether the vessels could withstand the microsurgery again,' Arya said. 4 The surgery has allowed for her to get an implant to have symmetrical breasts, which would not have been otherwise possible for her. Gorodenkoff – 'We went through the pros and cons of all the different options,' Purdie added, 'but something was telling me that because I'd had this idea, there was a reason why I'd had it. I needed to plough on and just trust the process.' She decided to move forward with the seven-hour surgery, and tests conducted afterward showed no signs of cancer. After radiation, she will get an implant on that side — and because of the procedure, there is enough skin for it. Arya calls the surgery a 'world first' and says he will soon publish about it. 'I think that would help others with that very rare question — is an entire breast DIEP flap reusable? Can you freely move it again? Now I can say, absolutely yes. We have successfully recycled a reconstructed breast,' he said. Meanwhile, Purdie is thrilled that they found a solution that 'has allowed me to maintain being a woman' 'I would have been left with only one breast permanently. Radiotherapy would damage the skin and tissues too much to allow for an implant, so this surgery gives me the possibility of having two breasts,' she said. 'I've been so lucky.'
Leader Live
3 days ago
- General
- Leader Live
Outdoor activities safety concerns raised by North Wales MS
Sam Rowlands, a Welsh parliament member for the region, requested an update from the Welsh government regarding improvements to outdoor safety. The chairman of the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector questioned Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, about efforts to improve safety for outdoor pursuits. Mr Rowlands said: "You will know the good work that takes place through the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector in Wales, and you'll also agree with me that we have some of the best outdoor activity organisations here in Wales that you could possibly imagine. "There have, though, been some recent tragic high-profile cases where basic safety standards in the outdoors have been ignored and caused tragic circumstances to arise." He also pointed out ongoing pressures on organisations such as mountain rescue, which aid people who find themselves in dangerous situations outdoors. Mr Rowlands expressed concern over the lack of clear direction from the Welsh government regarding responsibility for outdoor safety and associated legislation. He inquired about a point of contact for the sector to engage with as they strive to assure the public of safe outdoor enjoyment. READ MORE: NHS Wales to remove no-show patients from waiting lists, health secretary confirms In response, the minister confirmed that the Welsh government is committed to promoting safety, with a focus on prevention and risk mitigation for outdoor activities. Mr Rowlands added: "I firmly believe that everyone should be able to take part in activities safely outdoors and in particular that all young children should have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor education. "I recently met up with Scouts at Cox Wood Campsite in Rossett to see for myself how young people are able to benefit from taking part in all sorts of activities including being taught survival tips."
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Verbal abuse from patients and relatives to nursing staff has risen dramatically
Verbal abuse from patients and relatives to nursing staff has risen dramatically A survey of healthworkers has found that bullying and abuse of health workers is on the rise in one region of Wales NHS Wales staff are encouraged to fill out a survey every year about various aspects of their job (Image: Getty Images ) A quarter of Swansea Bay University Health Board staff who responded to a survey said they faced abuse, harassment or bullying from patients, their relatives or members of the public. The figure of 25% for 2024 was nearly 10% higher than the previous year, a health board report said. And 24% of those that responded said they'd experienced abuse, harassment or bullying from health board colleagues in the preceding 12 months - up nearly 5% on year before. A total of 19% said they'd faced abuse, harassment or bullying from their line manager - a rise of nearly 3%. The annual survey, held over two months, is deployed by all Wales' health boards, Public Health Wales and the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here There were some positive findings for the Swansea Bay region, which covers Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Employees cited supportive teams, job satisfaction and colleagues wanting to go above beyond to ensure the well-being of patients. Introducing the survey findings at a health board meeting Tina Ricketts, director of workforce and organisational development, said the low response rate by Swansea Bay staff was "quite disappointing". Just under 13% of the health board's 15,601 employees filled in the survey, nearly 6% fewer than the previous year and considerably less than the 21.9% Welsh average. Article continues below Feedback about the low response rate has indicated that staff lacked confidence that anything would change as a result, while concerns were also voiced about the confidentiality of individual responses. The survey findings in many respects mirrored the wider experience of NHS Wales staff. For example 56.7% of Swansea Bay staff said they'd recommend the health board as a place to work, hardly any different from the 56.4% Welsh average. And 65.1% said they were enthusiastic about the job, a smidgeon fewer than the 65.7% country-wide average. Ms Ricketts said the survey, combined with other workforce data, had informed three priority improvement areas around leadership and management, being able to speak up and raise concerns safely, and values and behaviours. A report before the board said it took a zero-tolerance approach to any bullying, harassment or abuse. Independent board member Nuria Zolle said she found the percentages around abuse, harassment or bullying from the survey "really worrying", and welcomed the focus on improved leadership. Article continues below Fellow independent board member Reena Owen said she felt it was important to tell staff what was going to change as a result of the previous year's survey in order to address the perception that nothing would change. Speaking at a health board meeting earlier this year a senior sister at Morriston Hospital's emergency department, Charlotte Gallivan, said verbal abuse from patients and relatives was increasing, and that staff were under immense pressure.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Doctors and dentists in Wales get above-inflation pay hike
Doctors and dentists in Wales get above-inflation pay hike One union said the uplift 'comes nowhere near addressing' pay erosion over recent years Unions representing medics in Wales have shared their disappointment (Image: Western Mail ) NHS Wales doctors and dentists are set to get a 4% pay rise, it has been confirmed. Others working for the NHS will see a 3.6% increase, with each rise surpassing the current inflation rate of 3.5%. Jeremy Miles, Welsh Health Secretary, confirmed that both pay awards will be backdated to 1 April, 2025. The rises stem from recommendations made by the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) and the Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) for 2025 to 2026. The increases exceed the rate of inflation which rose to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024. They also align with those given to NHS staff in England. However, unions representing medics in Wales have shared their disappointment, calling the rises "too little, too late" and stating they come "nowhere near addressing pay erosion". Royal College of Nursing executive director Helen Whyley said: "The pay award announced by the Welsh Government today (22 May) comes almost two months after the Pay Review Body (PRB)'s report was delivered to the UK government. "The PRB's recommendations were accepted and nursing staff employed on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts in Wales have been awarded a 3.6% pay increase across all bands, backdated to April 1, 2025. Article continues below 'This announcement has come far too late, leaving nursing staff waiting once again for recognition they urgently deserve. 'At a time when morale is already low and the pressures on the health service are immense, this delay only deepens the sense of disillusionment among our members.' Dr Iona Collins, chair of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Welsh Council said: 'The BMA has repeatedly provided evidence to reflect that NHS Wales doctors are undervalued and overworked. "The published pay increase of 1% above inflation comes nowhere near addressing the pay erosion of at least 19% over the last sixteen years. 'The DDRB and Welsh Government fail to recognise that doctors continue to experience the worst pay erosion in the public sector, which is not acceptable. "Similarly, the underfunding of the GMS contract leaves general practice in a precarious position, with financial remedy required immediately. 'Doctors are trying to get through the longest waiting lists on record and sacrificing their own health to do so, with high levels of exhaustion and burnout reported. "Now more than ever, doctors need pay restoration, which will help the profession feel appreciated for routinely going above and beyond. 'We will now digest the DDRB report and further consult with our members to gauge their views and consider our next steps. We have requested an urgent meeting with the Cabinet Secretary.' Article continues below
South Wales Argus
21-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Blackwood mother fundraising for baby's medical helmet
Bethan Smith's son, Macsen, was born on 24th September last year and has been diagnosed with severe plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, conditions which result in the flattening of a baby's skull. "I have been told by the helmet specialist it is most likely caused by soft malleable bones, so it looks as though it's genetic, I also had to go through the same with my eldest son," Bethan explained. "The NHS doesn't provide this as they class it as a 'cosmetic' treatment even though it causes so many issues later in life for them," said Bethan. Desperate to fund a medical helmet and treat baby Macsen's condition, Bethan launched a GoFundMe titled, "Helmet for my baby to correct severe flat head syndrome." (Image: Bethan Smith) (Image: Bethan Smith) Bethan argues that treating the condition as a baby could prevent significant suffering in later life, saying, "Later in life they have to break jaws and pull teeth to re-align everything, which I think is barbaric and if it can be prevented by a simple helmet it is beyond me why they don't provide it on the NHS." "Also, the amount of bullying he would get later in life because of this, if left untreated, breaks my heart to think about," she added. The family were able to fund Macsen's first helmet, but health complications have meant that he now needs a second one, which they aren't able to provide. "We bought him his first one and due to him being unwell and in hospital quite a bit, being put on oxygen and feeding tubes and having a temperature the helmet has had to be removed," she explained. Rather than having to end Macsen's treatment whilst his condition is still classed as severe, Bethan hopes to raise the necessary funds. "We are trying to raise money for him to have a new one, which is laser scanned to fit his head shape perfectly," she added. Bethan worries that the consequences of missing the window for treatment could be serious and long-lasting and is determined not only to help her son but also others struggling. "Any money we have left over from fundraising, we are donating to the clinic for other families to use for a helmet for their children," she said. (Image: Bethan Smith) Bethan's story is a mother's heartfelt plea for help and better awareness. She is hopeful that with the help of the community, she will be able to get the helmet for baby Macsen. When asked why NHS Wales doesn't cover treatment, the Welsh Government said they don't generally recommend helmets to treat the condition due to a lack of evidence that they work and the potential discomfort they may cause. However, they advise anyone concerned about the shape of their baby's head to speak to a health adviser or GP.
