This morning I was delighted to appear on the BBC Radio Tees mid-morning show to update the team on a huge step towards getting treatment for one of my constituents, Autumn Bradley.
Autumn suffers from the rare condition pectus excavatum. This means her ribs and sternum are growing inwards - pushing her breastbone back towards her spine.
Because most cases are considered cosmetic, in 2019 the NHS decided that treatment would not be available for free.
But people like Autumn, her condition is far from cosmetic. In her case, the growth of her ribs means her heart and lungs are effectively being crushed.
As a result, for Autumn, this condition is life-changing. She had been a keen athlete, running at county level - now she struggles to blow up a balloon. She has been so brave.
Sadly due to the NHS decision, Autumn and many people like her in England, are currently prevented from receiving the life-changing treatment they so badly need on the NHS.
In November last year, I raised the matter in Parliament and, as a result, this week I have received confirmation from the NHS that this decision is now under active review.
I would like to thank Autumn and her mum Sarah for telling their story and the team at BBC Tees for getting it out to the public.
And a very special thanks must go to Joel Dunning, a specialist surgeon at James Cook University Hospital, for making clear his professional medical opinion that in cases such as Autumn's, this treatment should be free at the point of need.
The clip below is edited for time. To hear the feature in its entirety go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p095v1zj
Simon
