Preston cancer patient's '˜week from hell' after double leg break

Linda Whitfield and Geoff Paton from Fulwood, Preston.

The partner of a woman recovering from cancer and waiting on an operation for her double leg break says it has been 'the week from hell'.

Linda Whitfield had her bowels removed after cancer cells were found and is still undergoing chemotherapy to kill the disease.

Then on Wednesday, February 1, the 61-year-old tripped on her handbag strap when getting out the car on Watling Street Road in Fulwood, Preston, breaking her leg in two places.

Now in a Royal Preston Hospital bed with her leg suspended in the air, Linda has had the surgery on her leg cancelled several times as staff continue to battle with capacity and resources.

Photo: David Hurst
Royal Preston Hospital, Fulwood. Car Park A — Photo: David Hurst Royal Preston Hospital, Fulwood. Car Park A

“It really has been a nightmare,” Linda’s partner Geoff Paton said. “Linda’s not allowed to eat all day before surgery only to be told it’s cancelled at the end of the day.

“She’s missed a chemotherapy appointment too and it’s now more than a week she’s been laying in hospital.”

The nightmare started for the Fulwood couple when Geoff took Linda to post a birthday card.

“She tripped and was lying in the road and all the traffic was backed up behind her,” the 60-year-old said. “We phoned for an ambulance but then a police officer who was stuck in the traffic came over.

“She picked Linda up and put her back in the car, telling me to take her to hospital and she would cancel the ambulance. I wasn’t too pleased with that because I don’t think someone with a serious leg injury should be moved.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We assisted with traffic management after a woman fell and suffered a leg injury in Watling Street Road, Fulwood, at around 2pm on February 1. We later helped the woman into her husband’s vehicle after the couple made the decision to make their own way to hospital rather than wait for an ambulance. The officers present at the time have since been spoken to and say they felt they acted on the wishes of the couple. However, we would like to apologise if there was any confusion and we now wish the woman all the best with her recovery.”

Now doctor’s receptionist Linda has been told her operation will be this weekend and Geoff says it can’t come soon enough.