Northern Ireland

Co Derry man (36) at risk of paralysis travels to Turkey for treatment due to waiting lists

Hunched over and left struggling for breath with a chronic spinal condition, Kevin McIvor (36) gave up waiting for the NHS. He tells how the system is "not fit for purpose"

Father-of-four Kevin McIvor travelled to Turkey earlier this month for a private consultation due to NHS waiting lists. Picture by Hugh Russell
Father-of-four Kevin McIvor travelled to Turkey earlier this month for a private consultation due to NHS waiting lists. Picture by Hugh Russell Father-of-four Kevin McIvor travelled to Turkey earlier this month for a private consultation due to NHS waiting lists. Picture by Hugh Russell

A 36-year-old man at risk of paralysis has described how he was forced to go to Turkey for a consultation after learning he faces "years" on the waiting list in Northern Ireland.

Father-of-four Kevin McIvor travelled from Bellaghy in Co Derry to a clinic in Istanbul three weeks ago where he got "more done in that one day than in my whole lifetime on the NHS".

Suffering from a hereditary form of scoliosis, a condition that causes the spine to curve abnormally and can crush the internal organs, the former joiner said he acted in desperation as his condition had deteriorated rapidly, affecting his mobility and breathing.

After undergoing physical examinations and a MRI scan, Mr McIvor was told by a surgeon that he urgently needed an operation. If left untreated, his spine could sever and he could become paralysed.

The surgery costs between £45,000 to £50,000 - with many scoliosis patients from the north having already travelled to the same clinic due to the waiting list crisis.

"If someone had said to me six months ago, you’re going to Turkey for surgery, I just wouldn't have believed it. You hear these horror stories - but nothing was further from the truth," he said.

Read More: Health minister warns 'appalling' waiting lists most urgent issue facing all Stormont departments

"I went over myself. I was in hospital from 9am in the morning to 8.45pm at night. It cost £1,110 - I just felt I had no choice. I also have a young family and mortgage. It had got to the stage I couldn’t stick it any more.

"The doctor examined me, took notes and then sent me for an MRI. I came back into his office and there was a big screen up. I thought it was someone else’s images as it looked so bad. I joked if it was the person in before me. He said: ‘I’m sorry but this is your scan, your scoliosis is severe.'

"As a matter of fact, it brought a tear to my eye, I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t understand how it had got to that stage."

Mr McIvor, who is originally from Ballinderry and now tutors in joinery due to his illness, collapsed while gardening during the first lockdown.

He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital's A&E, where he was monitored for several hours before being discharged home.

On being diagnosed with scoliosis in his late teens - his mother and sister also have the condition - he said he was informed he was too young for surgery.

"The pain was that bad last summer when my legs gave way that I felt my eyes were going to come out of my eye sockets, there was so much pressure," he said.

"My mobility isn’t great at the moment. Due to the severity of the scoliosis I am operating on one lung, the curve is squeezing on one of my lungs. It is so debilitating."

Following his return from Turkey, Mr McIvor enquired how long it would take to be seen by an NHS orthopaedic consultant given the severity of his condition.

"I was told it could take years. I don't have years. So I made an appointment to see an orthopaedic consultant privately in Belfast. I contacted a clinic on a Monday and was told I would be seen by the Friday, with a £286 bill," he said.

"What gets me is if somebody goes and breaks their leg, they go to A&E and they’re not going to send you home. They’re going to put you in a cast.

"What’s the difference in me having the possibility of my spinal cord basically severing and becoming paralysed? Why have they not got an emergency plan in place to say - you need this now.

"Why do people like me living in a developed country with the NHS have to go to an eastern European country to be seen?

"I’m tired and I’m worrying about my family - my youngest girl is six. I’m a working man and proud, I feel embarrassed to be honest to be forced into this position to try to raise money."

A colleague of the Co Derry man has now set up a Go Fund Me page towards the cost of his surgery. It has raised just over £14,000.

"It could cost £45-55k for two operations. It’s a lot of money, it’s money I don’t have. But if I have to borrow money on the house or whatever I'll do it," Mr McIvor said.

"In order for it to go ahead, the surgeon in Turkey told me he needs to ensure I have the aftercare in place and needs approval from my health trust. If I go to Turkey and have the operation and developed an infection, someone has to be on standby here. He said he won’t do the surgery unless there is the aftercare."

Earlier this month, Mr McIvor and his wife Annemarie were looking at family photographs from the beach and noticed their nine-year-old daughter's left rib cage had started to protrude.

"We got her scanned a few weeks ago. If she is diagnosed, as this is hereditary, I wouldn't even attempt to get her treated here. I'll just go straight to Turkey. Our system isn't fit for purpose," he said.

The Belfast trust, which is responsible for the regional service for scoliosis surgery, said it was aware of Mr McIvor's case and he is currently under review.

A spokeswoman for the Northern trust said it was satisfied that "appropriate treatment and referrals were actioned" when he attended Antrim's A&E unit last year.

"We would echo the health minister’s calls for long-term, recurrent funding that would allow more to be done to address waiting lists," she added.