A man’s plea for help as NHS refuses to remove five-stone lump
Alan Bromyard, aged 48, is facing a tragic situation after being denied NHS funding twice for the surgery required to remove a five-stone growth that has been causing him immense pain. Living in Long Eaton, Alan has been struggling with lymphedema, a condition that has been deteriorating over the past two years. His condition became critical in mid-August, resulting in a 14-day hospital stay, including six days in intensive care due to sepsis.
Opening up about his desperate need for surgery, Alan shared, “I nearly died. It hangs down to my knees, it’s a right mess and needs to be removed. They class the operation as cosmetic and say that’s why I can’t have the funding. It’s a 5st lump of fluid, I can’t lose it through dieting so what are they expecting me to do? I need help, I’m heartbroken.”
The impact of the growth goes beyond physical discomfort as it has forced Alan to give up his passion for farming and caring for his herd of cows. His outdoor hobbies have also been taken away from him, leaving him bedridden and unable to engage in activities he once enjoyed. Despite his surgeon recommending the surgery as beneficial, Alan’s funding applications were turned down twice.
Describing the daily struggles with the massive growth, Alan expressed, “It feels like I’m carrying a dead-weight toddler around all the time. It breaks down, it leaks – it’s just a mess.” Even with his surgeon advocating for the procedure in letters, the funding requests were declined by the Derby and Derbyshire ICB screening panel, citing it as a non-essential surgery.
Following the disappointments, Alan’s medical team is gearing up for a third funding appeal, with hopes of finally getting the necessary approval for the life-changing surgery. A spokesperson for the NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB explained that funding decisions are made based on individual circumstances and the availability of services, highlighting the need for exceptional circumstances to be demonstrated for funding requests outside the usual service provision.
The emotional and physical toll on Alan due to the rejection of funding has left him in a precarious situation, with his health deteriorating and his quality of life diminishing. As he awaits a verdict on his third funding appeal, Alan remains hopeful for a positive outcome that will allow him to regain his health and independence.