The Walton Centre Charity wig service helped Kay return to normal life
Kay Coslett, 83 years old from South Liverpool, has been a patient at The Walton Centre for ten years, struggling with Essential Tremor for a big part of her life.
After watching a piece on the news about The Walton Centre’s first patient for Focused Ultrasound, which is a treatment for Essential Tremor. Essential Tremor is considered one of the most common neurological movement disorders and is estimated to be eight to 10 times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease according to the National Tremor Foundation.
Focused Ultrasound can decrease symptoms immediately for patients who qualify for the procedure. Kay decided to ask her consultant if she was eligible.
Kay said: “When I found out I was a successful candidate for Focused Ultrasound, I was delighted. However, I was told by my surgeon, Mr. Farah, that for this procedure, my hair would have to be shaved off. I was devastated but wanted this operation more than anything”.
Kay had been a hairdresser for most of her life and loved doing her hair, so deciding to have the treatment and lose her hair was a big decision to make.
Kay said: “I had the procedure in October 2023 and was in and out on the same day. My symptoms had completely cleared, I couldn’t believe it. My only worry after it was how I would adjust to having no hair.”
The Walton Centre Charity funds a wig service for patients, to ensure that after procedures/conditions that require head shaving or side effects including hair loss, patients are offered vouchers which can be redeemed on wigs.
Kay said: “Wigs made such a difference to the way I felt after my operation, and I was so surprised how natural and comfortable they were. I couldn’t be more thankful to The Walton Centre Charity for providing this funding."
Kay’s hair is now growing back, and her symptoms are still clear.
Kay said: “My overall experience was fantastic, and I couldn’t thank The Walton Centre enough. The Nurses on the ward were amazing and looked after me so well. Thank you for everything you have done for me.”
If you want to fundraise for our charity, go to www.thewaltoncentrecharity.org.
If you want to learn more about Essential Tremor treatments, head to our website: Essential tremor - Ultrasound thalamotomy
-Ends-
Notes to editors
Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611