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West Midlands daily fought gran’s case and won

A grandma will receive a life-saving operation following a regional newspaper’s investigation which prompted health bosses to change their mind about funding the procedure.

The Coventry Telegraph had reported that Barbara Judge, 72, was turned down for £15,000 of surgery to fix a blood balloon that would kill her in seconds if it burst.

NHS Coventry had refused to fund it but this week backed down following the Telegraph’s investigation.

It will also pay for another patient who had been turned down on the same day as Barbara to have the same surgery.

Editor Darren Parkin said: “I’m sure many people believe the power of the local press is a tide in constant ebb during these dark times, but I firmly believe that when local journalism is executed properly you can still use that power and influence as a force of good.

“This is a wonderful example of how good journalism can deliver emphatic results.

Barbara Judge with copies of the Coventry Telgraph

“Warren Manger – our award-winning health reporter – has done a brilliant job with this and his exhaustive work, particularly in his research, has been the lever which caused such a remarkable U-turn by the NHS.”

Specialists at University Hospital had told Barbara that she was too ill to survive open surgery but was a good candidate for state-of-the-art keyhole surgery to fit a tailor-made stent in her artery.

Warren had tracked down new research showing experts believed the op – a Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair – was a viable alternative to open surgery.

NHS Coventry said it decided to fund the operations after it began to review its findings in preparation for the families’ appeals.

Barbara’s daughter Caroline said: “I just can’t thank the Telegraph enough for making this happen.”