NHS

MADE In Chelsea star Louise Thompson was forced to spend Christmas Eve in hospital amid her ongoing health battle, she has revealed.

The reality star, 35, has faced several health challenges including ulcerative colitis, lupus, and PTSD after giving birth to her son, Leo.

She had to previously undergo the removal of her entire large intestine (colon) due to her inflammatory bowel condition, which resulted in her getting her life-saving stoma bag.

But on Christmas Eve, Louise revealed she had spent a large chunk of time in hospital having a procedure.

Louise underwent a proctoscopy, which, according to the NHS, is an examination where an endoscopist looks directly at the anal canal with a small rigid proctoscope.

Taking to her Instagram page to reveal her hospital visit and explain what she had done, Louise shared some snaps in a gown.

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“Looks dramatic but it wasn’t. I had a proctoscopy today. It’s like a colonoscopy but not as invasive because I don’t have a colon so there isn’t very far the camera can go,” she penned over the first slide.

“Still bloody awkward and a tiny bit uncomfortable but fentanyl is a wonder drug,” she penned.

She then shared a photo of her with a nasal cannula on her face and inserted into her nostrils.

Louise went on to pen: “These appointments are so important and they managed to fit me in quite urgently so I jumped at the offering of a 24th December date, then when it came around I realised the magnitude of it being Christmas Eve.

“What it REALLY made me think was…

“Despite all the chaos of what I’ve been through, I still think we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS which NEVER clocks off in case of emergencies.”

She then added on the next slide: “The NHS never sleeps.

“I had a proctoscope today.

“A nice little Christmas Eve camera up my bum.

“The NHS was still running in full swing. Well not quite, but you know what I mean.

“It prompted me to say a big thank you to everyone that is working as part of the NHS over the bank holidays.”

She then concluded: “Thanks for keeping the country ticking along and for keeping our loved ones alive.”

Reasons for getting a proctoscopy include bleeding from your anus, pain in the lower abdomen (tummy), persistent diarrhoea or changes to your bowel habits.

TRISHA Goddard danced with joy as she celebrated reaching 68 years old amid her terminal cancer diagnosis.

The TV legend shared a deeply personal and positive message for fans as she marked the milestone while living with cancer.

The veteran broadcaster appeared overjoyed in the video, which she captioned: “If dem ask me how me feel turning 68 today & living with metastatic breast cancer.”

The Celebrity Big Brother star has secondary breast cancer, also referred to as metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer. 

She is also living with Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition that restricts blood flow to the fingers and toes.

Raynaud’s can develop as a side effect of certain cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, and may cause skin colour changes along with sensations such as numbness or burning.

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Despite her health challenges, Trisha was in celebratory spirits as she looked ahead to Christmas week.

In the clip, she smiled, danced and proudly declared: “I made it!”

Reflecting on her diagnosis, she said: “When you first hear those words,

“‘Your cancer has come back’ and every time you look at the news, your eye seems to be drawn to the words CANCER and TERMINAL, you think that’s it.”

She went on to explain how perspectives on the illness have shifted.

She said: “But scientists and the Medical world have re-classified metastatic cancer to being a LIFE LIMITING illness, for good reason.

“New drugs, new treatments, new medical breakthroughs.

“There’s a whole list of people I’d like to thank.”

Trisha then paid tribute to those who have supported her throughout her journey.

She added: “My darling husband and kids.

“My fantastic Oncology team and nurses, my darling friends who haven’t ghosted me, and YOU out there.

“Your kind words, laughter and encouragement means I celebrate you all!”

Trisha was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2023, having first got the disease in 2008.

She bravely opened up about the gruelling side effects of a “wonder drug” that she is taking to help prolong her life during her stint in the Celebrity Big Brother house.

I’ve stopped being scared before scans now.

“My cancer count has come down and down and down, this drug is working,

“But this new drug, that people hail as a wonder drug… what people don’t know, is it is one of the most vicious drugs to take.

Talking about the side affects she said: “(I get) Terrible constipation muscle aches, taste affected, eye sight affected.

“But if I hadn’t have had it, I wouldn’t be here, so it’s last call at the rodeo drug.”

Trisha was told three years ago her cancer had reached staged four.

However, she waited until last year to break the news of her terminal diagnosis.

Sarah typically works on Christmas Day. She has devoted countless Christmases to caring for newborns on the same emergency neonatal unit where her own baby was born prematurely this year

This is the heartwarming moment Sarah Alcock found out that her husband had nominated her for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

Christmas for the 35-year-old doesn’t tend to be spent tucking into a roast, opening presents and relaxing with the family.

In fact, Sarah typically works on Christmas Day. The Oakwood, Derby mum has missed out on many a festive day at home due to work nursing shifts at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where her own baby was born prematurely this year.

Born at just 25 weeks, weighing 1lb 12oz, the eight-month-old will be celebrating her first Christmas this year, but with staffing pressures mounting, she has volunteered to step in again to help her fellow colleagues out.

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Her husband, Dave, a marketing manager, from Oakwood, Derby, wanted to recognise how hard Sarah works, so he nominated her to win a break with easyJet.

“She’s a hero. Her work doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas, so she has to go there regardless of the date,” he explained.

Alongside Sarah, NHS nurse Nicky Starkowitz and care home manager Niccii Gillett, who also selflessly work every Christmas, were gifted holidays as part of a campaign by tour operator easyJet Holidays to recognise the UK’s hidden heroes.

Nicky faced a breast cancer diagnosis in August this year and tragically, her four-year-old son Raffi was also diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer in March. Her husband Neil said: “With everything going on this year we haven’t managed to get away or get the opportunity to do anything as a family together.”

Nicky added that “just to go away somewhere, as a family, and have time away together would be so nice”.

The holidays are a special easyJet Holidays escape, to give recognised key workers quality time with friends and family in the sunshine. They have been gifted to Christmas heroes after new research by easyJet Holidays found over 10 million Brits will be spending time apart from their families due to work commitments this year.

Nearly a third (28%) of key workers also feel that they haven’t taken a proper break in the past year, with nearly a quarter (22%) not likely to have a choice over whether they can work on Christmas Day or not.

Matt Callaghan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet Holidays, said: “At Christmas especially, we’re reminded how many people quietly put others first, often sacrificing precious time with their own families. Our key workers do this year after year, and our communities simply wouldn’t function without them.

“This is easyJet holidays’ way of saying thank you – giving a few of these Christmas heroes the chance to properly step away, rest, and spend quality time together, whether that’s in the sunshine or exploring a new city. It’s about recognising the people who give so much, especially at this time of year.”

The easyJet Holidays poll uncovered the professions we feel most grateful for at Christmas, with nurses, paramedics, care workers and delivery drivers among them.

Just under a quarter (23%) of Brits say they leave out a gift for the postal workers at Christmas, while over a fifth (22%) say they do the same for binmen.

Six in ten also say Christmas makes them feel more generous towards others, with 51% saying they compliment others more during the festive period, while more than three in ten (31%) check in with their neighbours.

Top 10 professions Brits feel most grateful for at Christmas:

1. Nurses (46%)
2. Paramedics (39%)
3. Doctors (38%)
4. Care workers (29%)
5. Firefighters (27%)
6. Police officers (23%)
7. Delivery drivers (22%)
8. Retail staff (20%)
9. Postal workers (17%)
10. Hospitality (16%)