Latest news with #UlsterHospital
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I'm an Irish League footballer, 28, who had a brain aneurysm, if it wasn't for my fiancee's quick-thinking I'd be dead
AN Irish League footballer has told of how he would've died from a brain aneurysm if not for the rapid response of his fiancee. Cameron Stewart detailed to The Carrick Rangers defender reflected: 'It actually happened on my birthday, on March 11. "I was playing a reserve game at Dungannon (Stangmore Park). I had been out for a while with a knee injury and was busting to get back in. 'My dad drove me up. I did my usual warm-up but I felt what is known as a thunderclap headache. I had never felt anything like that. I took a few paracetamols and played 60 minutes, that's all I needed. 'When I came off the headache got worse and thankfully my dad was driving, he drove me home and when the lights on the motorway coming home were really intense I felt something wasn't right. Read More On Football "I thought it could be a really bad migraine, and I tried to sleep. I thought I would get up early for school in the morning and be okay. "My fiancee Brooke was having none of it, phoned my dad and he took me to the Ulster Hospital where everything got serious from that point. "I wouldn't be here now if Brooke hadn't rang my dad — it's that simple. 'They initially thought it was meningitis, but they did my bloods and after the brain scan everyone's tone changed. Most read in Football "Despite the pain, never once did I think I was having a haemorrhage. My aneurysm actually burst and I had a bleed. 'I was blue lighted to Royal Victoria Hospital on March 12 for the operation over a few hours.' Germany vs Portugal Nations League clash DELAYED as players are forced to protect themselves from hailstones Cameron is employed as a PE teacher at Ashfield Boys' High School in Belfast. He's yet to return to work as his recovery has understandably been a gradual process. Not only does he want to return to his post at the school but he's also aiming to get back out on the pitch at some point. He outlined: 'As time goes on and I feel better, I want to be involved again. I watched the boys in the Play-Off and was delighted we stayed up. 'I just want to be back and help. That's my goal — to one day play again. I'll keep listening to the medical experts. 1 The eerie Instagram post his club issued mere hours before his aneurysm Credit: @carrickrangers 'There have been no complications and hopefully that continues. I haven't given up on my football career. 'Ashfield have been fantastic with me. The doctors have told me to aim for a return next year and everyone has been very understanding. 'When I am ready I will go back in. I love my job and I do miss the boys and girls who I have a great relationship with. 'It is daunting to have these conversations with kids. 'One of the most difficult times for me was reading a get well card from the boys — that was very emotional. 'I've a new outlook on life and I haven't closed the door on being the way I was before.'
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Maternal mental health: Calls for specialist unit in Northern Ireland
A new mother who was detained in a psychiatric hospital for five weeks says she "felt like a prisoner" because she was separated from her Browne, who had postpartum psychosis, was admitted under a mental health order after giving birth three years Great Britain mothers are cared for in specialist mother and baby units, but women in Northern Ireland are admitted to general psychiatric wards, separated from their business case for a mother and baby unit is months overdue, but the Department of Health (DoH) said it was well developed. However, it has also warned any future unit is dependent on funding being told BBC Spotlight she felt "lonely" and "pathetic" after being dropped off at the door of the Ulster Hospital psychiatric ward without her daughter, but said staff tried their best."I went in voluntarily and it was just the loneliest feeling in the world getting dropped off at a mental health ward with a bag and no baby," the 35-year-old year, about 100 women in Northern Ireland are admitted to adult psychiatric wards for similar care, without their babies. What is postpartum psychosis? A rare but serious mental health illness that can affect any motherSymptoms can include hallucinations, delusions, manic and low moods, loss of inhibitions, restlessness, out-of-character behaviour and confusionIf left untreated the condition can get rapidly worse and lead to mothers harming the baby, themselves or othersThe most severe symptoms usually last between two and 12 weeks but recovery can take several monthsSOURCE: NHS "I was a mother without her child and I felt like a prisoner," said Shelley."She wasn't with me, and I was in a mental facility. And it just broke me every morning."Seven health ministers have supported the idea of a mother and baby unit in Northern Ireland, but funding has never been found. Danielle Sands refused hospital treatment to stay with her first son, Joe, in she relied on specialist community teams."They had made it very clear that when I would go in there, I wouldn't have my Joe with me.""There was voices in my head 24/7, and they were negative," she said."Telling me everything I couldn't do, I wasn't good enough." Danielle and her partner, Nial, were supported by a community specialist perinatal mental health term perinatal covers the period of time from when a woman becomes pregnant, and up to a year after giving birth. Each of Northern Ireland's five health trusts receive more than 250 referrals for the community services each year, but because of staffing pressures they can only accept about 70 patients at a Julie Anderson, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland, estimates the number of women admitted to hospital could double or triple if a mother and baby unit was established."It's really, really frustrating knowing that there's much better care that our mums should be getting here in Northern Ireland," she said."And frankly, to be honest, somewhat embarrassing that we've been talking about this for almost 20 years and we're still not there yet." In 2018, Orlaith Quinn died at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in 33-year-old had given birth to her third child, a daughter, less than 48 hours Graham said her daughter began showing signs of postpartum psychosis shortly after giving birth."To go in and have a baby and come back out in a coffin, and you've three children left without their mother, it's just not a position you think you'll ever find yourself in a million years," she body was found in a part of the hospital that is unused at night. She had taken her own life. A 2022 inquest concluded Orlaith's death had been "foreseeable and preventable" and that there were a number of missed opportunities in her care and a statement, the Belfast Health Trust said it would like to extend a sincere and unreserved apology to Orlaith's added its maternity team would like the opportunity to meet Orlaith's family to offer an apology in trust said it was committed to learning from Orlaith's death and had put in place a training programme to help staff recognise the wider spectrum of perinatal mental health disorders, and the risk of maternal Maria Dougan tied the death to the absence of a mother and baby unit, finding that one should be established in Northern Ireland. Consultant perinatal psychiatrist, Dr Jo Black, who is originally from Cookstown, was instrumental in setting up a mother and baby unit in eight-bed unit, the layout and decor of Jasmine Lodge means it does not feel has areas for families to visit, and a team of said it was "extraordinary" there is not a similar unit on the island of Ireland."All of our evidence shows us that maternal suicide remains a major killer in the maternity period," she said."We can't shy away from that, and so these units save lives." 'Poor data collection' Between 2021 and 2023, 34% of late maternal deaths have been linked to mental health, according to a report by MBRRACE-UK, which includes Northern Ireland. A late maternal death is when a woman died between six weeks and one year after is currently thought more than 3,500 women develop perinatal mental illness in Northern Ireland each poor data collection could mean the need for perinatal mental health services is being underestimated, according to Dr Julie has confirmed the Department of Health has yet to implement a 2017 recommendation from the health regulator to improve data the time, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) said patient coding should be Department of Health said a review of coding practices for perinatal mental health conditions, and related hospital admissions, was planned. If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find information and support on the BBC Actionline website.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Enlarged prostate: Robotic technology treatment brings hope
Difficulty peeing, a frequent need to go to the toilet and trouble emptying their bladder - those are just some of the problems living with an enlarged prostate can bring ask David Fleming, from east Belfast, who has been living with one for a number of years and was one of about 1,000 men on a waiting list for bladder outlet left untreated, an enlarged prostate can lead to more severe symptoms such as acute urinary retention and infections - which is why getting that waiting list down is so a new treatment - or more specifically, a new robotic technology - is offering hope that those men can be treated sooner rather than later. Mr Fleming himself was delighted to be one of the first to undergo aquablation therapy at the Ulster treatment, the first of its kind across the island of Ireland, is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove excess prostate tissue, which Mr Fleming said will make a big difference to his life. The 64-year-old's condition, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), worsened early this year and his difficulties peeing led to a catheter being fitted. But this new treatment will "sort the prostate out so that the flow will be good in the future".Mr Fleming said his condition was being managed by medication until December but then it "took on a life of its own"."I would have been waking every hour at night, every hour and a half, so I really wasn't getting much sleep and was really quite tired," he the procedure should solve the issue, ensure the catheter is removed and give him "a good quality of life in relation to what I've had previously". Mr Fleming hopes, come his 65th birthday in September, he will be "a new man". How does aquablation therapy work? While there are several benign prostate treatments available, this treatment particularly helps men experiencing urinary problems due to an enlarged now, men with a very enlarged prostate had to travel to England for treatment or have more complex or invasive surgery in Northern this robotic technology eliminates the need for invasive prostate uses image-guided, high-velocity water jets to precisely remove excess prostate ultrasound imaging helps the surgeon map and direct the water jet with accuracy, avoiding damage to nearby nerves and structures responsible for sexual function and traditional procedures, no heat is involved, significantly lowering the risk of South Eastern Health Trust said this technology reduces the likelihood of side effects such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence and bleeding that may require also offers a shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stays and lower retreatment rates, improving outcomes for patients. What could the new treatment do for NI waiting lists? Ajay Pahuja, consultant urologist at the South Eastern Health Trust, described it as "an exciting new transformative technology" with many benefits for men who have difficulty passing urine."It's quite precise, it's safe and quite quick," he said. "Secondly, we'll be able to probably get patients back to work - an early return to their normal jobs."The complication rates are quite low if you're precise."Mr Pahuja said it also preserves sexual function, which is one of the big things this technology TURP is considered the gold standard care for treating benign prostate (BPH), surgeons say aquablation therapy complements the existing technologies they have and will hopefully help tackle the long waiting Pahuja said the urology waiting list, like other specialities, had a legacy of problems and that those with age-related benign prostate enlargement were waiting "as long as five to seven years" for treatment, with many having to go to said aquablation therapy could mean more efficient and effective treatment, coupled with the South Eastern Health Trust being declared as a regional BPH centre, should help shorten the waiting lists. The trust's assistant director of surgery, Katharine Dane, said all men across Northern Ireland will benefit from this new said aquablation therapy was "a real coup" for the trust. "It just completes the suite of treatment," she on a waiting list in other trusts will be transferred to the Ulster Hospital to be offered this service, if that is what is decided is appropriate for their prostate.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged after gun incident in Bangor
A 45-year-old man has been charged following an incident involving a gun in Bangor last weekend. Shots were fired by specialist police teams after reports of a man with a firearm on the city's High Street at about 21:30 BST on Sunday evening. On Saturday, police confirmed a man has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and assault on police. He is due to appear before Newtownards Magistrates' Court later. Videos which circulated on social media showed armed police confronting an individual along with the sound of gunshots. High Street was closed overnight on Sunday, and reopened on Monday evening. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said one person was taken to the Ulster Hospital. They said they received a 999 call at 21:57 on Sunday, and sent two emergency crews and a rapid response paramedic.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Man due in court following Bangor gun incident
A 45-year-old man has been charged following an incident involving a gun in Bangor last were fired by specialist police teams after reports of a man with a firearm on the city's High Street at about 21:30 BST on Sunday Saturday, police confirmed a man has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and assault on is due to appear before Newtownards Magistrates' Court later. Videos which circulated on social media showed armed police confronting an individual along with the sound of Street was closed overnight on Sunday, and reopened on Monday Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said one person was taken to the Ulster said they received a 999 call at 21:57 on Sunday, and sent two emergency crews and a rapid response paramedic.
