The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ex-nurse gets cancer surgery after delays ordeal
A retired nurse who faced an agonising wait for cancer surgery is to undergo an operation today, after voicing fears that the disease could be spreading.
Elizabeth McDonald spent more than 40 years working for the NHS in Keith and Dufftown.
But the operation which could get rid of her cancer has been postponed several times due to staff shortages. Earlier this week, the 71-year-old told the Press and Journal she faced a “living nightmare” while waiting for a lump to be removed from her neck. The next day NHS Grampian asked her to visit Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a pre-admission appointment.
And Mrs McDonald was preparing last night for the 12-hour procedure to take place. Her son, Ewen McDonald, said he wasn’t sure whether it was “coincidence” that the operation was arranged after his mother spoke out.
But he said the Keith pensioner was “relieved” that an end to the ordeal appeared to be in sight.
Mr McDonald added: “We haven’t been offered any explanations on how the operation was so quickly arranged, your guess would be as good as mine as to whether it was due to the publicity. The doctors think my mum will be in for three or four weeks afterwards.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross lodged a formal complaint on behalf of Mrs McDonald’s family.
Mrs McDonald said the lump in her neck went from pea to golf ball size within three months, while she awaited the operation. The delay was blamed on a shortage of nursing staff.