A 62-year-old woman who could suffer renal failure without regular stent operations has spoken of the impact of delayed treatment.

Adele Rhodes Girling has lived in Ipswich for the last 28 years and has had problems with her kidneys since May 2018, when she was diagnosed with sepsis.

From then till July 2021 Mrs Girling regularly visited the hospital with kidney stones until she suffered complete renal failure in 2021.

She said: “Since then every six months I have to go back to the hospital to get my stents removed. But this time it has taken so long that it could be really dangerous to me.”

Her operation was due to take place in February 2024, but she began to grow concerned when the wait continued.

Unsure about how much longer the delays would be, the 62-year-old spent £2,000 for a private treatment which would take place on Sunday, May 19.

She said even going privately the stent operation would have been carried out by the same team at the hospital who had been looking after her.

Ipswich Star: Dr Angela Tillett, chief medical officer at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation TrustDr Angela Tillett, chief medical officer at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Image: ESNEFT)

The Star put her concerns to NHS East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) which operates Ipswich Hospital.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Angela Tillett said: “We are very sorry that Adele has had to wait longer than usual for her procedure. We appreciate how difficult it can be for patients on waiting lists for treatment.

“The number of patients needing care from this hospital service is rising and we are continually reviewing the waiting list and prioritising patients based on clinical need.”

The trust did offer Mrs Girling her stent operation with the Ipswich resident retaining her private treatment incase of any issues.

She said: “A normal person’s red blood count is between 50-60, since the failure in 2021 I have been operating between 28 and 30. But the delay has caused my count to drop to 18, and if it went down to 15 I would have renal failure again.

“The delay will cost me serious lifelong problems.”

She also emphasised that the doctors and the consultants have always been on her side encouraging her stents to be replaced since February and is now in recovery.