Seen in the sun on sunday newspaper.....

[sylvi]

Woman needs £250 thousand pounds for a double lung transplant,the nhs is refusing to pay. The condition Has been triggered by Rhematoid Arthritis . This is something i didnt know about. Anyone reading todays sunday paper have any comments to make on this subject.....

[Hobbles]

I haven't read the paper but I have just had checks on my heart and lungs as RA affects internal organs too!

Sounds awful that she doesn't quailfy ....it can't be right?? Must go ad find artical online.

Thanks

[earthwitch]

Its always so hard to really judge anything like that in newspaper stories - by definition they want to print stuff that is contraversial or makes a really strong story.

Yes, any of the arthritises can affect lungs or other organs, but I'd want to know: who has said that this operation is the best or only treatment? what else was she offered? is the operation available in the UK anyway or is it such a new and experimental thing that its not yet considered worth the risks? Does she have other things going on that make her unsuitable for NHS treatment? Has she declined other treatment? What are the chances of success? is it a total last resort, grasping at straws, and not likely to help her much anyway?

Without being her doctor and knowing the full detail, I really don't think any of us can comment on whether the NHS decision is right or wrong.

[sylvi in reply to earthwitch]

It just made me think about what the hell goes on in our bodies when we get a disease like this and how it can do other damge to us. Bering in mind i have had a lot of problems breathing and i suffer asthma as well.It didn't scare me just made me think. Sylvi.xx

[chrispe]

Having worked on a cardiac ward. The reason of ra would not be enough on its own she must fail for many reasons.also how can u pay for a donated organ at death confused

[sylvi in reply to chrispe]

I read it and wondered how it could be that she has to go to the usa to get the op done. I think there is no one in england who could do the job. It made me think about my own health as i am having breathing problems. Sylvi.xx

[chrispe]

Lung transplants are done in this country i still feel theeres something we dont knowz re his one if u lungs were affected treatment is avvailable.my lungs are affected by methotrexate and the care i have is good. So try not to worry sylvi there are always ways to help.one lung can work as well as two so some details seem odd. Chrisxx

[Kathyfitz12]

I think the newspapers like a dramatic headline.The poor woman is obviously very sick,but nobody apart from her medical team can possibly know if it would be viable surgery. If someone is that sick they will clutch at straws - but she must have other conditiosn apart from RA, sometimes you just have to accept that surgery is not the answer.