A university student suffering from a debilitating brain tumour was left furious after a potentially life-changing operation was cancelled because of the junior doctors strike.
Hannah Gin-Sing, 21, watched her health rapidly deteriorate in recent weeks when the tumour went into ‘overdrive’, ravaging her body.
But having already waited months for surgery to treat the tumour, she was told just days ago that the industrial action had once again led to a delay.
The University of Manchester philosophy student said the cancellation left her devastated, and questioned why patients should suffer because of the strikers’ grievances.
Hannah Gin-Sing, 21, watched her health rapidly deteriorate in recent weeks when the tumour went into ‘overdrive’, ravaging her body
In a further blow, Miss Gin-Sing has been given no indication as to when the surgery will now take place.
The student, who was due to be treated at King’s College Hospital in South London, said: ‘I’m bummed. And fed up.
t would be fine if they gave me set dates and let me live my life in between but I’ve been expected to be on standby for six months now and I’m tired of it all. ‘Who knows when I’ll reach to the light at the end of the tunnel.’ The tumour on the student’s pituitary gland has led to the development of Cushing’s disease, which has had a significant effect on her health and forced her to take a break from university.
As well as causing scarring all over Miss Gin-Sing’s body due to the weakening of her skin, it has also led to severe fatigue and caused her hair to fall out.
When Miss Gin-Sing, from London, was diagnosed at the end of last year she was initially promised a wait of up to four weeks for the surgery.
After an agonising delay, she spoke excitedly last month about finally being given a date for the operation to take place.In an online post, entitled ‘We have a date’, she wrote: ‘It’s only nine days until my surgery now and I’m feeling excited. It’s only up from here.’
But despite being scheduled after the announcement of the strike, the surgery was cancelled a week before it was due to take place yesterday (Tues).
She added: ‘I fully support the strikes but nothing has changed since they were proposed. Why do they leave it until six days before surgery to tell me it can’t go ahead.’
Her mother Wendy, a clinical nurse at Hammersmith Hospital, said: ‘Understandably, Hannah is devastated and very annoyed about this.
‘She was diagnosed in early November and originally promised surgery to remove the tumour before Christmas but had to wait, which was very frustrating as her health continued to deteriorate and the increasing number of scars all over her body will be with her for life.’
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