A British woman in Turkey is unable to travel back to the UK to continue her medical treatment for a brain tumour due to a lack of available hospital beds in her home city of Liverpool. Gill Taylor-Scarth, 56, travelled with her family to Hisaronu in Turkey on August 15 for a holiday.
She had been diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after the death of her 65-year-old husband Keith Scarth. The holiday to Turkey had been paid for by her husband before his tragic death in December of last year. Gill decided to travel to Turkey to spend time with her family after being given the green light by her medical team at the Walton Centre.
She became seriously ill while on holiday and was eventually taken to a private hospital in Antalya. She underwent an eight-hour operation on August 26, after Turkish doctors told the family she needed immediate surgery.
Her daughter Sophie Taylor, 25, told the Liverpool Echo: “She made it through surgery and the surgeons said they are happy with how it went.
“She’s stable at the moment and we’re hoping to get her home as soon as possible on a medical flight, if she’s in the position to do that. It’s been a nightmare.”
However, Sophie claims the family have since been informed that Gill cannot be flown back to Liverpool to continue her treatment because there are currently no beds available at The Walton Centre.
“We are really struggling to get her home,” Sophie said. “It’s been nearly one month since she took ill and she’s stuck in hospital, where they don’t speak English. She’s really agitated and frustrated because she just wants to go home. She is crying daily; it’s mentally affecting her. It’s been a complete nightmare.
“I’m really worried about her mental health and physical health; she’s contracted pneumonia since the surgery, and she is getting worse.
“I don’t understand why she can’t just go to the Royale or somewhere instead. The family are flying back and forth, which is costing more money. I have a two-year-old at home who I can’t see because I’m here with mum. We just want her home.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for The Walton Centre said: “We are working closely with the family and the insurance company on the next steps in order to repatriate in a medically appropriate way. All patients must be assessed rigorously to ensure appropriate admission.”