大象传媒

Katie is 17 years old and suffers with severe epilepsy. Since April her condition has deteriorated rapidly, from having occasional seizures to now sometimes several in a day.

Katie has been referred to a neurology consultant, but the appointment isn鈥檛 until February next year. Her mum Kiley thinks that is too long to wait: 鈥淲e need the appointment brought forward. Katie's seizures have been getting more prolonged and more serious鈥�.

Kiley says it is having a detrimental effect on Katie because she cannot leave the house and sits at home watching TV or reading a book. 鈥淲hen you hear your 17 year old daughter say that she hasn鈥檛 got a life, she鈥檚 got no future, it鈥檚 really upsetting. It鈥檚 just not fair鈥�.

In a statement, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: 鈥淭here is a national shortage of neurology consultants and the trust has been proactively working to recruit specialist doctors鈥�.

It added: 鈥淎 neurology consultant is due to start at the trust in March 2018 and we are currently advertising for another.鈥�

This clip is taken from 5 live Investigates on Sunday 26th November 2017.

Photo credit: Rob Lay
Edited by: Kirsty Macaulay

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