Latest news with #NNUH
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norwich hospital apologises after 'botched' breast surgery
A hospital has apologised to a cancer survivor after she was left feeling "completely let down" following a "botched" breast reconstruction surgery. Catherine Jewers, 51, from Norwich, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 before finding a lump in her other breast in 2023. Following planned reconstruction surgery in February 2024, at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), she said her surgeons "basically ignored [their] consultation" and completed a different operation to the one she consented to. Dr Bernard Brett, medical director at the NNUH, said: "Ms Jewers has clearly been through a very difficult time and we apologise for our contribution to this." After being diagnosed with cancer in her right breast in 2010, the former health assistant underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was given the all-clear and underwent reconstruction surgery at the NNUH in 2011. However, in 2023, she found a cancerous lump in her left breast, leading to four months of was advised to have a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery involving skin and muscle from each leg being stitched together to make a new breast. 'Darkest day' Following the surgery, she said she was left with "no resemblance at all to a breast", adding the skin from her breast was still there and a mastectomy had "not been fully completed". Ms Jewers claimed the surgery was "completely botched".She said: "People don't realise that when you have breast cancer, the only silver lining for most people is having your reconstruction... and this has been my darkest day."While she was in hospital, she said her surgeons did not visit her to discuss the operation and she only had a consultation six weeks later. "This has ruined my life in so many ways, not just physically, but also the mental and emotional damage this has done, " she added. In 2024 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the hospital was the worst in the East of England for ambulance handover times and waits; between referral and treatment and for cancer treatment waiting times. At the time of the inspection it said regarding cancer waiting times the trust was performing poorly nationally and regionally and was highlighted as one of 15 most challenged organisations nationally for cancer recovery. In 2023, the trust was the second worst performing trust in the country for patients waiting 62 days for their first treatment. Dr Brett said: "Our records and review show that the high complexity of the procedure was explained at the time and the options for planned reconstruction surgery."To undertake a mastectomy and reconstruction on a patient who has previously had breast cancer and to avoid any risk to patient, there was a need to revise the plan and stop the surgery after eight hours in theatre... any further surgical time would have been a risk to the patient."We have apologised to Ms Jewers for her experience on the ward while she was recovering from surgery and we recognise there was a lack of communication and reassurance regarding certain aspects of her care and treatment." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surgeons plot epic Norfolk circuit in bid for new £800k x-ray system
Spinal surgeons from Norfolk's largest hospital have plotted an epic summer challenge in a bid to secure a new £800k x-ray system for the department. Members of the spinal surgery team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital are set to complete a circular route of Norfolk on water, foot and bicycle which will see them visit all three of the region's main hospitals. Setting off on Monday, the team is set to travel by river from Norwich to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston - rowing as close as possible to the sister hospital. A map showing the route the surgeons will take (Image: NNUH) From there, they will walk from Gorleston to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, taking the coastal path to visit Cromer Hospital along the way. And the final leg of their epic challenge will see them cycle from the QEH back to the N&N - with the challenge taking place across June. They are taking part in the challenge to raise funds to purchase a new x-ray system for the department capable of taking images with a 70pc reduction in radiation exposure. Tom Marjoram (Image: NNUH) Consultant spinal surgeon Tom Marjoram said: "This is especially important in children who are more vulnerable to radiation exposure, especially to the abdomen and pelvis. "It also allows images to be taken in one picture rather than having to stitch them together, which reduces the chance of errors and increases measurement accuracy." The equipment- a low dose x-ray imaging system - costs in the region of £800,000 - with the challenge taking place during Scoliosis Awareness Month. Mr Marjoram added: "This system will help reduce waiting times for diagnostic imaging and will mean that patients who require regular repeated scanning, especially from children, will receive low doses of radiation across their lifetime, reducing the possibility of long-term harm that comes from radiation exposure." To support the appeal, visit
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospitals merge spells better efficiency, says boss
The new head of Norfolk's three main NHS hospitals said their merger into one group could reduce waiting lists and the need to travel outside the county for treatment. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn and the James Paget University Hospital (JPH) in Gorleston operate under their own names but are now collectively called the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group. The three hospital trusts are forecasting a £53m gap in their finances by 2029/30. On her first day as chief executive of the group, Prof Lesley Dwyer said it was not about the money, but about working together more efficiently. "The job is getting to understand what is important to those local hospitals and their population," Prof Dwyer said. "The prime reason for coming together under the group formation was actually not about the money. "It was very much about closer working together, and doing those things that matter such as tackling waiting lists, making sure people are treated quickly in an emergency - making sure though, that we do get better value for the money that we are given." The NHS hopes the new hospitals group will save money and improve services [Getty Images] While each of the three hospitals will still have a managing director, Prof Dwyer said the "group structure is very much about trying to find those things that we can do at scale - things that we know perhaps are duplicated - but also making sure that we make some of those bigger decisions that despite our best intentions, perhaps over the last few years... that we just haven't done". But she said it was "very much about making sure that we don't take away the identity of the things that really matter to those local hospitals". Asked about lengthy waiting lists, Prof Dwyer said: "Currently we do have people who actually leave Norfolk to go and get treatment because we're not able to treat them. "We're hoping by using the capacity of the three - particularly around elective waiting lists - will mean that the travel people have will actually be within the county. "It's certainly our intention to use the capacity we have in the three hospitals, that we really do address those long waits." The NNUH is Norfolk's largest hospital [PA Media] Peter Passingham, the Eastern regional organiser for the union, Unison, said the merger was causing "a lot of uncertainty among staff". Asked what the point of the merger was, he said: "Well, I think it's the aspiration. "We know that the NHS is struggling at the moment... and I think it is the hope to do something which is going to improve the situation, as opposed to something that may actually bring real changes." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Related internet links
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norfolk hospitals merger spells better efficiency, says boss
Hospitals merge spells better efficiency, says boss 7 minutes ago Share Save Helen Burchell BBC News, Norfolk Share Save Paul Moseley/BBC Lesley Dwyer heads up the newly merged hospitals group The new head of Norfolk's three main NHS hospitals said their merger into one group could reduce waiting lists and the need to travel outside the county for treatment. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn and the James Paget University Hospital (JPH) in Gorleston operate under their own names but are now collectively called the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group. The three hospital trusts are forecasting a £53m gap in their finances by 2029/30. On her first day as chief executive of the group, Prof Lesley Dwyer said it was not about the money, but about working together more efficiently. "The job is getting to understand what is important to those local hospitals and their population," Prof Dwyer said. "The prime reason for coming together under the group formation was actually not about the money. "It was very much about closer working together, and doing those things that matter such as tackling waiting lists, making sure people are treated quickly in an emergency - making sure though, that we do get better value for the money that we are given." Getty Images The NHS hopes the new hospitals group will save money and improve services While each of the three hospitals will still have a managing director, Prof Dwyer said the "group structure is very much about trying to find those things that we can do at scale - things that we know perhaps are duplicated - but also making sure that we make some of those bigger decisions that despite our best intentions, perhaps over the last few years... that we just haven't done". But she said it was "very much about making sure that we don't take away the identity of the things that really matter to those local hospitals". Asked about lengthy waiting lists, Prof Dwyer said: "Currently we do have people who actually leave Norfolk to go and get treatment because we're not able to treat them. "We're hoping by using the capacity of the three - particularly around elective waiting lists - will mean that the travel people have will actually be within the county. "It's certainly our intention to use the capacity we have in the three hospitals, that we really do address those long waits." PA Media The NNUH is Norfolk's largest hospital Peter Passingham, the Eastern regional organiser for the union, Unison, said the merger was causing "a lot of uncertainty among staff". Asked what the point of the merger was, he said: "Well, I think it's the aspiration. "We know that the NHS is struggling at the moment... and I think it is the hope to do something which is going to improve the situation, as opposed to something that may actually bring real changes." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital joins 'world-leading' baby study
A hospital has begun testing newborn babies for genetic conditions as part of a "world-leading" Generation Study aims to test the entire DNA – or genome - of 100,000 babies across England to check for rare illnesses that can develop later in life with the hope of speeding up diagnosis and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is one of about 30 NHS hospitals taking part in the involves midwives taking blood samples from umbilical cords shortly after birth and sending them to a laboratory to be examined. The test checks for disorders that develop in early childhood for which there are effective NHS said in some cases these diseases were curable, if caught midwife and principal investigator, Leanne Trenerry, said: "Ninety-nine per cent of women who take part will receive a letter or email telling them there is 'no condition suspected'."For the 1% of 'condition suspected' cases, families will be contacted by an appropriate NHS specialist team to provide further testing to confirm a diagnosis." Optional test At present, newborns are given a heelprick blood test that checks for nine serious conditions, including cystic part of this new study, led by Genomics England, blood samples will help diagnose many more disorders, such as haemophilia and spinal muscular NNUH said the optional test was open to all women over 16 who had a singleton pregnancy (not twins or triplets).Expectant parents would be informed about the study at their 20-week scan appointment, the hospital England said the plan was to collect evidence to determine whether genomic newborn screening should be offered to all children in company, which is government-owned, said blood samples and data would be securely kept for 16 years, and would only be accessed by approved healthcare researchers. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
