Mum’s mission to keep centre which ‘saved my life’
A mum is campaigning to save a specialist balance and dizziness centre.
Charlotte Woolsey, from Boughton Monchelsea, is petitioning to rescue the service – one of just three in the country – after it was served notice last year.
In 2006, aged just 19, she was left bed bound and unable to walk after an episode of vertigo. After numerous GP appointments and different diagnoses, it was unknown what her problem was.
But after three years of suffering, Charlotte was transferred to the balance centre at Gillingham’s Medway Maritime hospital.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with variant migraine balance disorder, which can cause a throbbing or pulsating pain. It often leaves people feeling sick, vomiting, and with a sensitivity to light and sound. After rehabilitation and a strict diet, her condition is finally under control. Now she has vowed to save the centre. It was expected to close in
April, but this was pushed back until October. However, due to the pandemic this is likely to be moved back again while the trust tries to find a new venue to continue the service.
She said: “People come from all over the country to receive the specialist care it provides and yet despite this, the centre is closing.
“With no alternative yet, I dread to think of the position this will leave many people in.” Her petition has received more than 600 signatures of support. “It literally saved my life and has allowed me to recover and live a normal life,” the motherof-two said.
She said she has spoken to her doctor about the proposals and says they are “not happy all the suitable requirements could be met” if it is moved.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust chief executive James Devine said: “We continually review our services to ensure they are providing high quality, timely, and person-centred care. “Sometimes, as in this case, a service does not need to be provided in a hospital setting and can be delivered more accessibly in the community.
“Following a comprehensive review we gave notice to the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) last year of our intention to stop providing the balance centre at the hospital.
“We are continuing to see and treat our existing patients while our colleagues at the CCG work to procure a new provider for this service.’’
You can sign the petition at bit.ly/2CtFepy