Paralysed woman with agonising bladder pain faces 'soul-destroying' wait for surgery

Warning: Some images may be distressing to readers.

An Edinburgh woman left paralysed by a traumatic accident says she is facing a “soul‑destroying” wait after NHS Lothian postponed a “life‑changing” operation indefinitely.

Yvonne Sinclair was told by specialists she would receive a urostomy within 16 weeks to alleviate severe bladder problems and recurring infections.

But she says she is now in limbo – left with painful pressure sores after lying in her own urine for hours at a time.

NHS Lothian says waiting times for highly specialised surgery can be lengthy.

In her 20s, Yvonne was beginning a promising modelling career when a traumatic accident left her paralysed from the waist down.

Now 62, she is supported by her mum Gayle and round‑the‑clock carers at her home in Edinburgh.

Yvonne has been plagued by painful bladder problems for years and now says her body is rejecting the catheter she relies on, causing serious health complications.

She told STV News she is waiting “in purgatory” for her operation.

“I’m spending more time in bed or in the wheelchair. Being wet, the skin breaks down and then I’ll stay in bed for several days.

“The more days I spend in bed, the time passes and the worse my skin gets.”

She says the impact on her daily life has been devastating.

“It’s soul‑destroying,” she said. “You see the sunny days outside and you can’t go out and enjoy yourself. Everybody else is doing nice things, enjoying the summer, and I’m lying in my bed wondering if I’m dry or wet.”

Last summer, Yvonne was finally referred for a urostomy, a procedure that allows urine to exit the body through a stoma, which would allow her to live more independently.

“It would mean a lot more freedom. I could sleep all night – and I never sleep all night. Being wet in public… You just don’t go out.”

But in October, she received a letter from NHS Lothian saying the operation had been postponed indefinitely.

Yvonne has been left with pressure sores Yvonne Sinclair

Her mum Gayle, 79, says the family has heard nothing since.

She said: “It’s just silence. We’ve been left in limbo.”

Gayle said Yvonne’s condition continues to deteriorate while she waits.

“It’s constant bladder problems, infections, blockages of catheter and it’s consequently breaking down her skin because she’s lying or sitting in urine and it just causes pressure sores.

“When her skin breaks down, it means she has to stay in bed for several days.”

Gayle said district nurses visit three times a week to carry out bladder washes, which would no longer be needed if Yvonne had a urostomy.

“It would take a lot of pressure off them and her GP practice if she gets this urostomy.”

Yvonne with her parents in hospital after the accident Yvonne Sinclair

She says doctors have told them Yvonne is a suitable candidate for surgery, making the delay even harder to understand.

“Why are they postponing Yvonne rather than other people?

“It does make you wonder, is she not worth it? I’m afraid we tend to think that way sometimes.”

Yvonne says the procedure would not only restore her dignity, but also ease the pressure on her carers.

“It would also mean a lot more freedom for myself and my support team because they wouldn’t be having to wash and change clothes during the night.

“I could sleep through the night – and they could too.”

Gayle said the impact on the family has been profound.

“We would drop everything. Life is on hold.”

Tracey Gillies, medical director at NHS Lothian, said: “We apologise to Ms Sinclair for the length of time she has waited for the procedure. We are in regular contact with her and her family.

“Due to the high risk and complex nature of Ms Sinclair’s case, her care must be managed by a highly specialised urologist who treats patients with complex referrals from across Scotland. Unfortunately, this does mean that waiting times for this type of highly specialised surgery can be lengthy.

“Patients are clinically assessed and scheduled for surgery based on clinical need and priority, and all patients on the waiting list are kept under regular review.”