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Teen Courtney Raggett’s life ‘put on hold’ by tremors and black-outs

An aspiring nurse suffering tremors and partial black-outs has been waiting eight months for a hospital appointment to establish what is causing them.

Teenager Courtney Raggett began experiencing severe headaches 18 months ago but at first thought they were just migraines.

In May she went to see her doctor at St Gregory’s Surgery, St Gregory’s Crescent, Gravesend, after the symptoms – which also include balance issues, hallucinations and breathing difficulties – got worse.

Teenager Courtney Raggett is waiting to see a neurologist
Teenager Courtney Raggett is waiting to see a neurologist

Mum Ann, 40, said they were told a referral had been made to Darent Valley Hospital’s neurological department and that an appointment would be confirmed in due course, but that never happened and eight months on the hospital has no record of any communication from St Gregory’s.

The hold-up has left the 16-year-old in limbo, not knowing what is causing the issues and struggling at college as a result of the undiagnosed condition.

She has also been undergoing tests at the hospital for urology issues but cannot undergo a more in-depth examination until she has seen a neurologist.

The tremors can be so bad she struggles to make a drink, while she has almost been run over as a result of having a black-out.

She said her social skills and mental health had been affected and the delays in diagnosis mean her life is on hold.

Mrs Raggett, of St Aidan’s Way, said: “The surgery told me they had chased the hospital at least three times.

“I contacted the patient liaison service at Darent Valley Hospital and they had no record of any referral.

“Eventually last week the surgery checked its system and saw no referral had been made by any of the three doctors we had seen.

“Paramedics have had to be called on three occasions after Courtney has suffered black-outs. And one said all the signs point to multiple sclerosis. She’s been to hospital on all but one of those occasions but without the referral she can’t see a neurologist.”

Staff at St Gregory’s and Dartford, Swanley and Gravesham Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for the surgery, declined to comment on the circumstances of individual cases.

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