'It meant the world to me. I know this is it. It's about building memories'
27.08.2026
A Derbyshire grandmother with chronic heart failure praised BCUHB staff after being treated in North Wales, which allowed her a special holiday with her grandchildren.
Anita Wright, from Clay Cross in Derbyshire, wanted to visit North Wales for a holiday with her family – including her grandchildren – earlier this year. The sticking point was her diagnosis of chronic heart failure, after four cardiac events left her heart operating at only 25% of its capacity.
Unable to travel without a guarantee of continuing treatment, Anita’s local heart failure nurse, took matters into her own hands. She contacted Wayne Tomlinson, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner based at Glan Clwyd Hospital.
He agreed Anita could continue her intravenous (IV) treatments at the hospital while in the area, allowing her that special holiday with her grandchildren. She attended our Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) to receive two treatments during her week-long stay, with each visit lasting at least four hours.
Anita said: “It meant the world to me. At Christmas they told me I wouldn’t see February. I said, ‘no, I'm going to see my little grandson turn two’. It’s about building memories for him, because I know I'm on borrowed time.
“I know this is it. We're coming towards the end - and to be able to go away and just have some
time where you don't have to think about it.
“Yes, I had to go into your facility twice, but it was nothing out of the ordinary for me or my family. But it did mean absolutely everything, not only to me but to my family.”
Anita had her first heart attack around 20 years ago, the first of four she has suffered. Various treatments were tried and ineffective and she was even considered for a heart transplant in Manchester but she was told she wouldn’t survive the operation.
As can happen with heart failure, she started to suffer from fluid build-up because her heart wasn’t working effectively. After several different treatments she was given a new drug at a high dose which has helped her cope with the condition. She was a pilot for the treatment which started around 18 months ago.
It means Anita has to keep attending her local hospital to receive regular IV infusions - for four hours, three times a week - which treats the build-up of fluid caused by her heart failure. But she is grateful for everything clinicians have done for her.
She added: “Chesterfield saved my life and Clay Cross gave me life back. The service Glan Clwyd Hospital gave me allowed me to go away with my grandchildren. It meant the world to me.”
Anita’s heart failure nurse, Mandy Duquemin said: “In all honesty I expected my request to be declined.
“This is one of the best examples of collaborative working for the benefit of a patient I have ever seen in my time as a heart failure nurse.
“In the NHS we expect to be met with red tape and barriers to care outside boundaries. This is a shining example of compassionate care which deserves recognition.”
Wayne Tomlinson, Lead Heart Failure Nurse at Glan Clwyd Hospital, said: “While I was the main contact via email, multiple colleagues within our cardiology team and SDEC collaborated to help provide Anita’s treatment .
“Echoing what Mandy said, I want to thank everyone who helped and supported Anita, to allow her to have this precious time with her family in North Wales.”
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