Those who followed Thursday’s news about 29 year old Islander, Sam Farren, will be pleased to hear her assessment at Southampton Hospital yesterday went well.
Sam, who has long-running back problems, but also been in severe pain since collapsing at the beginning of the year, had been struggling to get treated, latterly having spent the last seven days on a ward at St Mary’s Hospital.
It was during a visit to A&E last week that Sam discovered the stabilising surgery she’d been told she was due to have in February, was not going to happen. Her consultant was on compassionate leave and she’s not been passed onto another consultant. She’d fallen through the gap.
Social media campaign
It was only after her parents, Carol and Bob Bridgestock, took to social media after six days of frustration, that eventually at 4.50pm on Wednesday evening it was announced Sam would be seen by a specialist at Southampton the following day.
A spokesperson from University Hospital Southampton said,
“We received a request for an urgent review of Mrs Farren’s case on Friday, 13 February 2015. Our lead spinal surgeon carried this out and decided that the best course of action was an outpatient appointment to discuss her situation in more detail.”
Treatment “Nothing short of a miracle”
It was discovered during yesterday’s assessment at Southampton that Sam may have a rare bacterial infection in her spine. She has been placed on a pioneering drug treatment for the next six weeks.
Her mother, Carol, said today,
“It’s the best news we could have possibly hoped for. Surgery has still not been ruled out, but there is a good chance she will not need it.
“This is a once in a lifetime drug, but the difference in Sam this morning is nothing short of a miracle!”
Apology from IW NHS Trust
Sam and her parents also received an apology from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust yesterday.
A spokesperson from St Mary’s Hospital said,
“We acknowledge that the patient did not, in the initial stages, receive the best experience of the quality care that we aspire to at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust. We would like to sincerely apologise to the patient and her family for the delay in admitting her to our hospital ward.
“This delay was because of significant pressures the Trust has recently been experiencing from emergency admissions. We are, however, working very hard to ensure we get the right patient to the right bed as soon as possible.
“Although the Isle of Wight NHS Trust offers an extensive range of acute services, we unfortunately do not provide the particular specialist spinal treatment or expertise that the patient requires.”
Carol: “A lot to be thankful for”
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this treatment will work for Sam and she’ll soon be back on her feet.
Carol said,
“Sam has a long way to go, but we have a lot to be thankful for.”
Image: © Sam Farren/em>
