Distraught mum's plea to health chiefs - "help my daughter now before it's too late"

Q Radio News

A distraught west Belfast mother has made an emotional appeal for health chiefs to help save her disabled daughter's life.

12-year-old Kerry-Louise Shortt, who has severe scoliosis and spina bifida, was due to have vital surgery next week to correct crippling curvature of her spine. 

However, her mum Martina says she's been left devastated after the potentially life-saving operation was cancelled for the second time in three months. 

Martina fears if the condition deteriorates further it will lead to ever-increasing pressure on her daughter's heart and lungs, with associated breathing difficulties.

She's calling for the procedure to take place as a matter of urgency, before it's too late and the condition is not treatable. 

At the family home in Glenbawn, Poleglass, we've been speaking with Kerry-Louise's mother, grandmother and a family friend who's demanding answers from the Belfast Trust...

Belfast Health Trust has issued a statement to Q Radio - 

"We are sorry that this child has had her surgery postponed.  We know how difficult it is when planned surgery is cancelled not just for the patient but also their family.  However, there will always be occasions when cancellations at short notice is unavoidable.  For example, intensive care beds may be needed for emergencies across the region, and become unavailable for planned surgery; or the patient maybe unfit for surgery; or a specialist member of the clinical team could be called to attend an emergency.

"We all do all we can to avoid cancelling and always aim to reschedule operations as soon as possible."