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40K Bust Pain: Mum Turned Down 20 Times for NHS Surgery
31 Mar
Summary
- Woman faces daily pain from size 40K breasts after 20 NHS denials.
- She seeks £10,000 for private surgery due to chronic discomfort.
- NHS Devon cites policy; suggests exceptional circumstances for approval.
Joanna Brice, a 52-year-old woman from Devon, is desperately seeking to fund private breast reduction surgery, estimating the cost at £10,000. She has reportedly been denied by the NHS for this procedure at least 20 times since 2000.
Ms Brice suffers from severe back pain, nerve damage, and fungal infections attributed to her 40K-cup breasts. She describes her daily struggle with discomfort, the expense of specialized bras, and the impact on her self-image and ability to live a healthy lifestyle.
Despite providing extensive documentation, including GP letters, her requests were often dismissed as cosmetic. NHS Devon confirmed that breast reduction is not routinely commissioned but indicated that exceptional clinical circumstances can be considered through an Individual Funding Request process.
This situation echoes that of Lily Porter, 21, who also faces challenges obtaining NHS breast reduction for her 36NN breasts, due to high BMI, despite a prior sepsis scare linked to her condition. These cases highlight the complex criteria for NHS-funded breast reduction surgery.
