Hospital waiting times leave 45-year-old man 'scared to go to sleep'
'I have done my research and someone with sleep apnoea is only expected to live between eight and 18 years'
A good night’s sleep is something we typically view as restful and restorative – the most natural way of repairing the mind and body.
However, for one Gilford man. A night’s sleep has become his worst nightmare.
Gerald Cunningham – who has been undergoing assessment for sleep apnoea for months – contacted Armagh I about the ‘constant referral’ and ‘constant promises’ that he says have been the only response from local hospitals.
The 45-year-old father of one described his symptoms: “My heart keeps stopping. It flutters and stops, I stop breathing in my sleep and I can’t get a breath. It’s scaring the life out of me.
“This is going on a long time. I just keep being referred to Craigavon or Daisy Hill to ring and book a sleep clinic, but they just keep telling me a Consultant will call back.
“I don’t know where I stand or what I need to do.
“I have done my research and someone with sleep apnoea is only expected to live between eight and 18 years.
“I am so scared to go to sleep. I have a 5-year-old son and he’s going to be left without his daddy.”
Gerald credits his GP with persisting in trying to get him “pushed up the list” but says that he is still expecting to wait 3 - 4 months on a sleep clinic appointment.
Gerald’s reply to the expected waiting times: “I don’t know if I’ll be here.”
And his frustrations are shared.
Another local took to social media after making over 260 calls to her GP practice - all before 8.40am!
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🤔 Conundrum
Well done to those of you who guessed last Tuesday’s conundrum… We need a hitman for this…
The answer: Kilmore
Today’s conundrum is this…
The town needs to be reduced!
Where in Co Armagh are we talking about?