Woman told to wait 16 months for appointment for 'severe pain'

Jessica Madden, who has learning disabilities, was admitted to hospital with a faecal blockage, as well as kidney stones and polyps on her bladder

A woman with learning disabilities has been told that she will have to wait 16 months for a gynaecology appointment despite being in "severe pain", her father has said.

Jessica Madden, who is 31 and non-verbal, was in hospital due to the discovery of a blockage in her bowel, as well as kidney stones and polyps on her bladder.

However, she was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and told she would have to wait 16 months for a follow-up appointment.

The Belfast Health Trust have apologised to Jessica and her family "for the long delay while she waits for referral and an outpatient appointment".

"We know that this is extremely worrying for them and we are truly sorry that this wait is adding to their distress," a spokesperson for the Trust said.

'When she does try to communicate you know it's severe pain'

Brian Madden said he and his wife have had to "fight for everything" for Jessica

Jessica's father, Pastor Brian Madden, said he does not believe his daughter was well enough to leave hospital.

He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster Programme that he has taken Jessica twice to the emergency department and both times she was sent home with medication.

Pastor Madden said that his wife received a phone call on Wednesday to say that Jessica's blood tests had come back clear for cancer and that she would now have to wait about 16 months for an appointment.

He said that this was because her case had been downgraded from "red flag" to "urgent".

"No one even told us they were looking for cancer, that near knocked my wife off her feet," he said.

"She's still suffering from pain, she still has these gallstones, she still has this cyst on her uterus."

Jessica has a rare genetic disorder which means she has severe learning difficulties and epilepsy.

"Unlike us she can't communicate with you when she's in pain so when she does try to communicate you know it's severe pain," her father said.

"We have fought for everything, we have had to be advocates for our own daughter.

"Every single time we have to fight."