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'I'll die to make a point'
A gardener with a deadly swelling in his artery says he is willing to die under a surgeon's knife to expose shortfalls in the NHS.
Michael Glossop, 71, of Old House Road, Hemel Hempstead, claims he was offered life-saving keyhole treatment at a top London hospital after an aneurysm was found in his aorta.
The aneurysm can burst at any time and result in sudden death.
But despite getting the go-ahead from doctors for the life-saving 13,000 keyhole operation, Mr Glossop claims Herts health bosses refused to pay for it.
Mr Glossop, who also suffers from chronic obstructive airways disease, says he is now ready to die undergoing alternative open-chest surgery, to prove that people with his condition need keyhole treatment.
However, a spokesman for West Herts Primary Care Trust (PCT) says the pensioner's case is still under consideration.
Mr Glossop, who is engaged to be married for a third time in December, claims: "Open-chest surgery would kill me, I know that.
"I have a chronic breathing condition and the risk is that with anaesthetic I won't survive. But I don't want to die in my bed or in the street.
"I've spoken to my children and explained that I'll have surgery to die and make a point."
Mr Glossop, who has six children and 21 grandchildren from his first marriage, has told his five daughters and one son to sue the NHS should he die during surgery.
The grandfather was first diagnosed with an aneurysm by his GP in December, 2007 and met a consultant at Hemel Hempstead Hospital in January.
In March he was referred by his GP to St Mary's Hospital in London and weeks later was told he could have life-saving keyhole treatment there known as 'stenting'.
But according to Mr Glossop, staff at St Mary's said he was unlikely to get funding for the operation from West Herts Primary Care Trust (PCT) because it had already dismissed the option of stenting at Watford General Hospital.
Mr Glossop, who works as a gardener across the area, claims the decision by the PCT is over money and not health risks.
However, a spokesman for West Herts PCT, Rose Child, says it received a funding application for Mr Glossop's stenting from the trust in charge of St Mary's Hospital on Monday, (May 12).
The spokesman says: "Our exceptional treatment panel has acted on this request immediately and are seeking additional information from Imperial College Healthcare Trust on Mr Glossop's individual condition.
"They will consider his case in detail once that information has been
received."
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Friday 25 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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