Latest news with #breathingdifficulties
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘She was so fit, so well': the heart patient who died before getting vital surgery
Sue Griffin was an active 68-year-old, retraining to become a nurse and indulging her love of horse riding, when she began to experience breathing difficulties, such as breathlessness. 'She was then diagnosed with asthma, and was going to see an asthma nurse,' her daughter Kirstie Campbell recalls. But despite treatment, it soon became apparent that Griffin's symptoms were not improving. 'She was getting more and more breathless as time was progressing,' Campbell says. 'She struggled doing things with the horses as well, she'd always done everything herself. She was getting fairly frustrated with herself, thinking that she was just turning into an old lady really quickly.' Griffin's breathing difficulties seriously progressed in 2021 and, after phoning 111, she was admitted to hospital and seen by the cardiology ward, where she was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Her aortic valve, which controls blood moving from the heart to the body, was restricting blood flow. This causes it to become narrow, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain. 'She stayed [in hospital] for a few days and it became apparent how serious her condition was,' Campbell says. 'It was made worse by the fact that she was anaemic. She was told she needed the procedure asap, but was still told to go home and wait for the hospital to be in contact within the next two weeks for an appointment.' The procedure, known as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (Tavi), is used to replace the valve without open heart surgery. Griffin was still waiting for her procedure to be scheduled when her condition suddenly declined, leading to her death in hospital. According to research by Valve for Life UK, up to 8.2% of patients on the elective Tavi waiting list die before being able to receive treatment, with some centres reporting a mortality rate as high as 20%. 'Everyone on the waiting list for this procedure needs it and is urgent, and they're all just a ticking timebomb, unfortunately,' Campbell says. 'It comes as no surprise that the figure is as high as it is, and I think it comes down purely to early diagnosis, and once they've got the diagnosis, they're already gravely ill,' Campbell says. 'What I'm finding really sad is that it's all been missed.' But, for Campbell, one of the hardest things to process is the fact that, if her mother had been able to have the procedure scheduled, the outcome may have been different. 'Knowing and listening to the surgeon who could have performed the surgery on my mum [during the inquest], and hearing him saying that there is a 1% mortality rate to this surgery that could have saved her life is extraordinary,' Campbell says. 'She was so fit, so well and so stoic, and she was my everything in my life. I worked with her for the last 40-odd years and spoke to her every day.' She added: 'Since then, I've lost myself as well because I don't have the one person that I can trust and belong to. It's hit me in a huge way that I didn't think was possible. Everything is more transient because I've lost the biggest person in my life and that's what I struggle to get over.'
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
New care centres are making the health of South Australians a priority
It is every mother's worst nightmare when their newborn baby has difficulty breathing. For 27-year-old mother-of-three Talisha Wagner, it became reality when faced with her five-month-old daughter Paisley struggling to breathe. Calling the healthdirect helpline, Wagner was advised to immediately head to hospital or the Elizabeth Medical and Dental Centre, where she could access urgent care services for her daughter. Paisley was then referred to and treated at the Elizabeth Priority Care Centre, a centre her mum was previously unaware of. Faced with a daunting wait in a hospital emergency department, she chose to try the clinic, where the young family was in and out in 90 minutes armed with a diagnosis and the information necessary to tackle the problem facing the newborn. 'It's happened before and we have taken her to the hospital – twice,' Wagner explains. Paisley's condition – known as laryngomalacia – is caused by floppiness of the laryngeal tissues above the vocal cords. When breathing in, the tissues above the vocal cords fall in towards the airway, causing partial obstruction. The doctor quickly diagnosed the issue, which Paisley will eventually grow out of as she gets bigger and her muscles become stronger. 'They taught me different ways for her to swallow to kind of bring it back,' Wagner says. 'It was really great as they showed me what to do in the event it happens again. 'Now she wears a sock monitor so I can keep a close eye on it.' SA Health, in partnership with the Adelaide Primary Health Network and general practices, established four Priority Care Centres across metropolitan Adelaide in Marion, Elizabeth, Para Hills West and Hindmarsh, with an additional centre located in Mount Barker. These centres provide vital community-based healthcare and treatment for eligible patients such as Paisley and her mother with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions who would otherwise be seeking treatment at a hospital emergency department. The referral-based centres can also provide a range of other services including radiology, pathology and pharmacy services, and can refer on for follow-up care. Patients who are eligible for Medicare can also access a Priority Care Centre at no cost. Talisha Wagner is a big advocate for the centres. 'Absolutely, they were amazing,' she says. 'It's not as chaotic as an emergency department and from my experience I think they have more time to be thorough and you're not having to wait around for hours on end to get the help you need.' New service is a breath of fresh air to consumers When Carolyn Ohijenko was having difficulty breathing, the 70-year-old feared yet another trip to the emergency department and the potential of a lengthy wait. Recently diagnosed with asthma, Ohijenko was having problems managing her breathing along with her medications, when ambulance officers were called to her home. Upon assessment they made a call to the SA Health Urgent Care Hub-Playford clinic, a new, dedicated out-of-hospital healthcare service, next door to the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Part of the SA Health Urgent Care Hubs, these referral-only services provide various, rapid assessments and acute care for patients whose care needs are unable to be met by primary care providers and would otherwise need to visit an emergency department. After spending up to 18 hours in departments in the past, Ohijenko was blown away by the speed and care she received at the Urgent Care Hub. 'I'm new to having experiences of bronchial asthma and after my first episode which took me to emergency, I was very scared,' she explains. 'I would have these coughing spasms and despite having the medications, they didn't seem to be working. The second time the ambulance came to my home – they were the ones who rang the new hub, which I found very fascinating.' Just a week earlier in mid-March, Ohijenko had similar breathing problems and was taken to an emergency department. She says the experience at the hub was much smoother and more comfortable. 'I was very impressed with the whole area, the medical staff and how well they looked after me,' she says. 'It was very attentive and immediate. I didn't have to sit in a plastic chair and wait to see someone. As an older person that is very uncomfortable. The people were looking after me from the moment I entered the place and they had all my complete medical history in front of them and could look after me straight away.' Located in Sefton Plaza, Woodville, Playford (Elizabeth) and Daw Park, the SA Health Urgent Care Hub multidisciplinary teams are made up of nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, social workers, podiatrists, occupational therapists and dietitians. It is a referral-only service, received from SA Ambulance Service, SA Virtual Care Service, general practitioners and community health care providers, while non-government organisations or consumers can even be redirected from emergency departments. Ohijenko says these hubs take some of the strain off our emergency departments. 'For us older people, we have complex issues, so sometimes we don't have a choice but to make an emergency call,' she explains. 'I would 100 per cent use the services again. They did everything they could for me, from showing me how to use the medications properly to making recommendations to my local GP. They were great.' Been there, lived that Jess Rolevink speaks with authority about the crucial role peer support plays in helping people deal with their mental health challenges. As the peer practice lead at the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, she sees every day the impact empathy and understanding from people with lived experience has on those who may be struggling with issues such as extreme anxiety and depression. And she only wishes the service – designed to help give people the care they need when they need it to keep them out of hospitals – existed when she was dealing with her own distress. 'During my teenage years and my twenties, I really struggled with anxiety and depression quite badly,' she says. 'It was so hard to get help. I was in and out of hospitals. 'That was it back then – there was no such thing as valuing lived experience. For me, my experience was one of isolation and of feeling judged. There was no one there that could say to me, 'you know what Jess, I get it. I absolutely get what you've been through and you're going to be OK'. 'I never experienced that and so this is why this role is so important. It just helps so much.' Rolevink works with a team of 25 peer support workers and a similar number of clinicians at the walk-in Elizabeth centre, described as 'a welcoming place for people to access mental health information, services and supports from qualified professionals over extended hours.' Anyone can reach out for support for themselves, a loved one, friend, colleague or community contact. The service is free and no appointment, referral or Medicare card is needed. Similar centres are in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Mount Gambier and Port Pirie. Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre operations lead Rebecca Ljubic says all five centres are tailored to meet the needs of their local communities. 'When people experience a mental health crisis or distress they often turn to a hospital and emergency department and that's not always the best fit, given EDs are really tailored for physical health needs, and not so much mental health needs,' she says. The service aims to – where appropriate – provide immediate support to reduce distress; provide in-house assessment, treatment and support; and connect people with the most appropriate ongoing support. Ljubic says the focus is on providing a 'warm and welcoming' space, far removed from a cold, clinical setting. 'There's a lounge room environment for people, all the consulting rooms are very low stimulus, there's mood lighting,' she says. 'It's relaxed and comforting to help support people in a homelike, relaxing sort of environment.' There has been growing local demand for the service. 'For our immediate access – the walk-in component of our service – we are currently seeing more than 300 people a month. And that's just stepping up and up and up each month.' Ljubic agrees the 'peer-first' lived experience component of the service helps provide a balanced and holistic care model. 'A lot of people come into the service feeling distressed, in crisis and hopeless but having that peer connection – having someone there who believes in them – helps them to regain some of that hope,' she says. 'Not everyone requires clinical intervention either. Some people might come in and they'll be able to talk with a peer and talk it through. 'Some may come in and might have some very serious things happening in their life where safety is concerned. That's where a clinician will become involved and provide some support around some of those more complex situations.' Rolevink says hearing others talk about their own lived experience in a 'purposeful and authentic way' can have a powerful effect – and reflects again on the lack of post-hospital care during her own mental health journey. 'What I would have loved back then would have been a combination – someone with lived experience and someone with the clinical know-how to essentially walk alongside me. And that's what we do here.'
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Steph Davis shares emotional update after baby son stopped breathing again and reveals struggles over episodes
STEPHANIE Davis has opened up on her little boy's breathing difficulties as she shared a fresh update on his health. The former Hollyoaks actress, 32, gave a candid take on her life as a mum of two juggling little Samuels "episodes" - leading her to watch him "like a hawk." 6 6 6 Stephanie previously told of the "terrifying" moment she rushed her youngest to hospital and the "scary episode" at just two months old, which left him requiring hospital treatment. She welcomed her baby boy back in January in what was a "tough" birth, and suffered a terrifying ordeal at the start of April when he stopped breathing. Now the Channel 4 alum has posted a series of sweet pictures showing her cuddling the tot as well as being joined by her eldest Caben Albi. Alongside the cosy images she wrote in a message to fans: "Heyy, Not posted much recently but haven't had many photos to post since Samuel had his breathing episodes I've just been at home watching him like a hawk. "Mum life is so busy you literally don't get a minute, let alone to post! "Awful last photo of me and my two boys but I literally don't have any of us together. Don't you find you have a camera roll filled with photos of everyone else with your children and none of them with you." She added: "I've been so anxious since Samuel not breathing and now having 2 episodes, I've spent most of my nights jumping awake with dread to go back to sleep and do it all over again. "Hope everyone's ok and I'll try be more active ( I say this every time)." The actress and CBB alum rounded off her message with the words: "All my love Steph xx" HEALTH HORROR Previously, Steph told how she was in a cafe after a baby sensory class with her son when he suddenly stopped breathing before he was due to be fed. Pregnant Stephanie Davis reveals adorable moment she told son Caben he is going to be a big Two ladies outside who worked at the hospital rushed to help and got an ambulance. Stephanie spent all day at the hospital, later recalling: "We were just having a nice day and then all of a sudden he's foaming from the mouth with loads of saliva. You lose your head as a mum, it's honestly torture." She added: "Poor baby has had two lumber punctures and all sorts done to him to get to the bottom of it all. "It's been a dead upsetting time. I'm trying not to cry again because I've just been crying. Hollyoaks - cast member cull HOLLYOAKS beauty Chelsee Healey has dropped the biggest hint yet she's been axed from the soap - yet what's happening at the Channel 4 show? Earlier this year, the Channel 4 soap was forced to address the cull of cast members. It came after The Sun was first to report Hollyoaks bosses plan to kill off a whopping 20 cast members. Now Chelsee, who recently took time away from her role as Goldie McQueen to give birth to her second daughter, has now made a cryptic move on X. The Manchester lass, 36, re-posted a picture of her character crying to her page. It came after Stephanie Waring, famed for her 28-year-long role as Cindy Cunningham, confirmed that soap bosses had axed her as part of the 20-person strong cast cull. Another big name set to quit for good is popstar turned soap star Jamelia. The soap's resident hunk and TV favourite Owen Warner has also left the show amid the cuts with fans left devastated to say goodbye to his character Romeo Nightingale. Jamie Lomas has also quit the show and will depart his Warren Fox role soon. Haiesha Mistry famed for her role as Yasmine Maalik has also left after seven years. Stephanie shares son Samuel with her partner Joe McKalroy, who revealed the joyous news of the baby's birth on Instagram at the start of the year. Joe said at the time: "It has been a traumatic experience but you are finally here in our arms. "I never thought I could possibly love your mummy anymore than I already do but this is just so special and an unconditional love I cannot explain with words. "@stephaniedavis88 I love you more than you will ever know," he concluded. Steph commented on the post at the time about the "tough" birth she had endured, writing: "Sobbing reading this. My heart. I love you more than anything in this world. "I couldn't love you more. I'm so blessed to have you as a daddy to our boys xxx. "You carried me though that, it was so tough. I love you more than you will ever know xxxxxxxx." 6 6 6
Al Arabiya
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Iraq sandstorm closes airports, puts 3700 people in hospital
A sandstorm swept through Iraq, filling the air with choking dust that closed airports and put more than 3,700 people in hospital with breathing difficulties, the health ministry said Tuesday. Visibility fell to less than one kilometer (barely half a mile) in central and southern cities as the storm cloaked the region in an eerie orange haze, AFP photographers reported. Basra and Najaf airports both closed for the duration of the storm, which began to dissipate on Tuesday morning. Health ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said Basra was the worst-hit province, accounting for more than 1,000 of the 3,747 hospital admissions attributed to the sandstorm. Many of those who dared to venture out in Basra wore face masks to protect themselves from the choking dust, an AFP photographer reported. Sandstorms are a perennial feature of life in central and southern Iraq but the environment ministry has warned the country can expect to suffer a rising number of 'dust days' in coming decades due to the impact of global warming. A heavy sandstorm in 2022 saw one person die and more than 5,000 treated in hospital for breathing difficulties.
