A little Scottish girl’s operation was postponed seven times and she became inoperable.

This news plunged his loved ones into great confusion. In Edinburgh, Scotland, a ten-year-old girl was scheduled to undergo surgery to treat a rare genetic disease. But doctors eventually declared her “inoperable,” postponing the medical procedure several times.

Eve Tennent suffers from Rett syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development, and progressive scoliosis. The result of the race: his spine twists and bends dangerously to the side.

Lack of nurses and beds

Speaking to the BBC, Jill Lockhart said that since September 2023, her daughter has been called in seven times for a precious surgical procedure at an NHS facility. But each time the operation was eventually cancelled.

The mother blames the dysfunction at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh. She said the delays, which led to her daughter’s intervention being canceled multiple times, were due to staff shortages in the care unit.

“She’s at risk of dying”

“She was considered operable in September, October and November, and these operations were only canceled due to a lack of beds and nurses. […] They’ve waited so long, and now they say it’s too late. I feel like my daughter’s chances of survival were sacrificed,” says Jill Lockhart.

And the mother still blames the blow for this: “If Eva had been operated on, with her condition she could have lived another 15-30 years. Without this operation she risks dying.”

For months, NHS users have had to be patient to quickly see a healthcare professional as they face a shortage of carers, some of whom are fleeing to the private sector.