Latest news with #RoyalCornwallHospitals
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
'Shock' at closure of eye clinic in St Austell as services move
An eye clinic at a community health centre in Cornwall is to clinic at Wheal Northey in St Austell has treated many people with serious eye conditions across mid and north Cornwall, but treatment is moving to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, near Bristow, a regular outpatient of the clinic, said she had been "shocked that we received no notice that it was closing".A Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust spokesperson said "our priority will always be to ensure patients continue to receive safe and effective treatment within nationally approved time frames" when considering changing clinic locations. All glaucoma patients who attended Wheal Northey are being told that treatment has moved to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, with the rest of the clinic's services understood to be transferring within the next few weeks. Mrs Bristow lives near Bodmin and has been receiving injections for macular degeneration at the said: "It's a horrific thought that you've got to have injections directly into your eyes, but I actually look forward to going to Wheal Northey because they are so friendly."Her husband George said he felt the same way as "they put you at ease there". He added: "It's a horrendous process. "Jill's got used to the people there and is confident to go there because they are so friendly. "In a bigger hospital, that's not going to happen."The change means she will have to travel nearly 20 miles (32km) to attend appointments every seven weeks."They keep wanting to get services into the community, yet this is doing the opposite," Mr Bristow clinic's closure comes after the NHS said the minor injuries unit in Launceston would remain closed until staff could be have also asked holidaymakers to stay away from the Truro emergency department.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Telegraph
Amputation surgeon accused of paying Eunuch Maker to cut off others' legs
A vascular surgeon who carried out hundreds of amputation operations before having his own legs removed has been charged with fraud, police said. Neil Hopper, 49, has also been charged with encouraging someone else to remove the body parts of others. Mr Hopper has been accused of buying videos from the Eunuch Maker website showing the removal of limbs, which 'encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties' between Aug 21 2018 and Dec 4 2020. He has also been accused of dishonestly making false representations to insurers, claiming his leg injuries were the 'result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted' between June 3 and June 26 2019. Mr Hopper, of Truro, Cornwall, is due before Cornwall Magistrates' Court in Bodmin on Wednesday. He has not worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since March 2023. The General Medical Council placed restrictions on his practice the following month, and he was suspended from the medical register in December 2023. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: 'The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mr Hopper has been employed, has worked closely with Devon and Cornwall Police throughout the investigation.' Mr Hopper previously told the BBC that losing his legs had made his life 'more interesting'. 'The thought of power tools being used on me was icky. It was really weird,' he added. A hospital trust spokesman said: 'The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper's professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients. 'Mr Hopper worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest. 'Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' patient experience team.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Surgeon accused of fraud over his leg amputations
A surgeon has appeared in court charged with offences relating to the amputation of his legs. Neil Hopper, 49, from Truro, has appeared at Bodmin Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of fraud after he allegedly told insurers the injuries to his legs were due to sepsis and were not self-inflicted. Mr Hopper, who is originally from Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, is also charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of grievous bodily harm. Mr Hopper did not enter any pleas to the three charges during the 40-minute hearing. He was remanded in custody to appear at Truro Crown Court on 26 August. More news stories for Cornwall Listen to the latest news for Cornwall Mr Hopper is charged that between 3 and 26 June 2019 he committed fraud by making a false representation to insurers, namely that the injuries to his legs were the result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted. He also faces a charge that between 21 August 2018 and 4 December 2020 he bought videos from a website called The Eunuch Maker which showed the removal of limbs and that he encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove the body parts of third parties. Mr Hopper had been employed by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust from 2013 until he was arrested in March 2023, police added. A spokesperson for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper's professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients. "Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Patient Experience team," they added. Mr Hopper has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Related internet links HM Courts and Tribunals Service
The Guardian
7 days ago
- The Guardian
Cornwall surgeon accused of fraud over amputation of his own legs
A surgeon from Cornwall who carried out hundreds of amputations is appearing in court accused of lying over how he lost his own legs and encouraging another man to remove the body parts of others. Vascular surgeon Neil Hopper, 49, from Truro, was charged with three offences after a two-and-a-half-year investigation by Devon and Cornwall police. Hopper formerly worked for the Royal Cornwall hospitals NHS trust and has previously said he lost his legs to sepsis in 2019. Devon and Cornwall police said he faced two counts of fraud by false representation. The particulars are that 2019 he 'dishonestly made a false representation to insurers, namely the injuries to his legs were the result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted, intending to make a gain'. He was also charged with encouraging or assisting in the commission of grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that between August 2018 and December 2020 he bought videos from a website called The EunuchMaker showing the removal of limbs and 'encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties'. Hopper was appearing at Bodmin magistrates court on Wednesday 23 July. The police said Royal Cornwall hospitals NHS trust, where Hopper has been employed, has worked closely with officers throughout the investigation. A spokesperson for the trust said: 'The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper's professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients. Mr Hopper worked in at the Royal Cornwall hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest.' Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall hospitals' patient experience team on 01872 25 2793, or email In a BBC interview in 2023, Hopper spoke of the amputations. He said: 'I do quite a lot of amputations and the one thing that kept going around in my mind was power tools. The thought of power tools being used on me was icky. It was really weird.' He said he recovered quickly. He was told it would take him about three months to be able to walk. 'I did it in three hours,' he said. 'I hate to say it but I'm more active since I lost my legs than I was before.' He was shortlisted in the European Space Agency's search for an astronaut with a disability.
Sky News
7 days ago
- Health
- Sky News
Surgeon charged with buying 'Eunuch Maker' videos and fraud over removal of own legs
A vascular surgeon accused of buying videos from the "Eunuch Maker" extreme body modification website has been charged with fraud over removing his own legs. Neil Hopper, 49, who has carried out hundreds of amputation operations on others during his career, has appeared on ITV 's This Morning to talk about his injuries. Hopper, from Truro in Cornwall, has been charged with two counts of fraud between 3 June and 26 June 2019. He is alleged to have dishonestly made a false representation to insurers claiming that his leg injuries were the "result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted". Hopper also faces a charge of encouraging or assisting in the commission of an indictable-only offence, namely grievous bodily harm. He is said to have bought videos from the Eunuch Maker website showing the removal of limbs, which "encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties". Hopper is due to appear Cornwall Magistrates' Court in Bodmin on Wednesday. He has not worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since March 2023. A hospital trust spokesman said: "The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper's professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients. "Mr Hopper worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest. "Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' patient experience team." The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service's interim orders tribunal placed restrictions on his practice in April 2023, while the General Medical Council investigated, and he has been suspended from the medical register since December 2023. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman said: "The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mr Hopper has been employed, has worked closely with Devon and Cornwall Police throughout the investigation."
