THE SCOT who will be the recipient of the UK’s first double hand transplant has praised a move by the NHS in England and Wales to fund the procedures.
A team in Leeds has been given the go-ahead to run the NHS programme and recruit patients who have suffered injury, an accident or sepsis.
Quadruple amputee Corinne Hutton, 44, is one of four people who are in line to receive a hand from a donor, with the first operation as part of the programme expected this year.
The mother-of-one from Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, had her hands and feet amputated after suffering septicaemia in 2013.
She said: “I think this is a hugely positive step by NHS England that could have an enormous impact on the lives of countless amputees in future.
“On top of the obvious practical things, when I lost my hands I could no longer ruffle my little boy’s hair; I couldn’t teach
him to tie his shoelaces,
tie his tie on his first day at school, or wipe his tears when he cried. She added: “While waiting for my operation, I’m always acutely aware that a potential donor has to die for me to receive new hands.
“I hope that families of donor patients will take some comfort in the impact their selfless decision will have for another individual.”
Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Simon Kay will run the programme.
Eligible patients have typically lost one or both hands, mostly below the elbow. They may have suffered injuries caused by a machine or other things, including chainsaws.
The deadly blood infection sepsis is the commonest cause of hand loss, Professor Kay said.
Corinne set up the charity Finding Your Feet almost three years ago and since then has raised tens of thousands of pounds
to help others. She has broken three world records, including becoming the first female quadruple amputee in history to conquer Ben Nevis.
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