Holly Williams, from Newtown, has been repeatedly sent for treatment at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital while suffering from a rare neurological condition – despite there being no neurologists at the hospital.
Holly suffers from a rare condition called Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) which can lead to serious symptoms that impact her life.
“I went into hospital in December 2023,” said Holly. “I woke up one morning I was pretty much paralysed, I couldn’t even bend my back. I was waiting 36 hours for an ambulance to come. When I got to hospital they rushed round thinking it was a spinal infection.
“I saw a neurologist and he said ‘I’ll see you in the new year’. I didn’t hear anything until that May where I returned back with stroke-like symptoms.
“I saw the same consultant who diagnosed me with FND who told me they were retiring. I had a referral put in to see their replacement, ever since then I haven’t been able to see a neurologist in Shrewsbury Hospital.”
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS has no neurology department and is instead reliant on cover from Wolverhampton.
Holly and her partner Perry Saunders have been in a battle over the last two years to get her seen by a consultant, at first seeking a referral to Wolverhampton, but as this was sent by her GP in the post there was no reference number to track.
They have also pushed to have Holly treated in Hereford where there are four neurologist on staff, but she was denied a transfer as she lives too far north.
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In this time Holly has been through severe stress.
“In June I started vomiting blood,” said Holly. “We went to A&E, at first they put that down to the FND which seemed odd as it is a neurological disorder so why would it make you throw up blood.
“I had 11 weeks of not being able to eat, lost 25 kg. It was backwards and forwards about getting an endoscopy until I saw the gastro team in Shrewsbury who said I should have had one when I came in. They later found a hernia.
“Since being diagnosed I have had to figure it all out by myself as they gave me a website when I was diagnosed. My house isn’t fit for FND, I have seizures, I can sometimes wake up and not be able to move out of bed, I struggle with the stairs so I have had to move my bedroom downstairs.
“I am too scared to go to the hospital anymore.”
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Her partner Perry has had to become a full-time carer and said they have “had to chase eight or nine times to get her changed over – we have kept hitting brick walls”
Holly has now been transferred for an appointment but only after intervention by Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP, Steve Witherden.
“I have been supporting Holly and her partner in trying to secure the neurological treatment she needs and deserves since she got in contact with my office,” said Mr Witherden.
“Sadly, constituents needing help getting the right healthcare support is an all-too common case, but one I am always eager to take up.
“If you have experienced similar treatment, please get in touch with me at steve.witherden.mp@parliament.uk and I will do everything in my power to help.”
Powys Teaching Health Board has not commented and has not confirmed whether the move to Hereford is permanent.
Dr John Jones, Medical Director at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases, but we are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients and are very sorry when distress has been caused by the care that we provide.”
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has also been contacted for comment.