Surgeon Niall McGonigle helps patients with pectus excavatum in Northern Ireland

Patient Charlie Clarke shares her story

Twenty-six-year-old Charlie Clarke lived with pectus excavatum for years before seeking surgical treatment. She hid from classmates at school because the condition made her feel invisible. Her chest appeared sunken and caused breathlessness that sometimes led to losing consciousness. At age 23 she was finally referred to a thoracic surgeon after a misdiagnosis of anxiety. Charlie is one of 85 people in Northern Ireland currently waiting for this specific surgery.

Waiting times and funding pressures exist

The Department of Health acknowledged that some patients have endured lengthy waits for operations. Five patients on the list have waited longer than five years while others wait less than two years. Pressures on waiting times stem from high patient volumes combined with other demands on the thoracic surgery service. The department secured extra funding to reduce the number of people waiting for procedures. Additional pectus procedures were performed in the last three years as a result of this funding.

Surgeon Niall McGonigle has unique experience

Consultant thoracic surgeon Niall McGonigle specialises in chest wall deformities and suffered from the same condition as a child. He underwent surgery at 17 after being bullied and called names like freak or mutant at school. The condition was not widely recognised in Northern Ireland leading to many patients being dismissed as seeking cosmetic surgery. McGonigle states there is evidence that early diagnosis allows treatment without surgery for some patients.