Sharon Barbour

Health Correspondent, Producer and Presenter at BBC

BBC Health Correspondent Producer & Presenter. Medical Journalist Assn Feature of 2024, RTS Journalist of the Year, Prod/Director The Wahine Disaster

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Articles

Prototype 'to light up' hidden breast cancers

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Sharon Barbour

Image source, KromekImage caption, The technology shows cancer more clearly, developers sayHealth correspondent, North East and CumbriaA prototype scanner designed to detect cancerous tumours in women with dense breast tissue could "ultimately save more lives", researchers say. Dense tissue shows up as white on mammograms, but tumours are also white - so they can be hard to detect.
Sunderland man says cancer diagnosis at 19 left him feeling alone

2 months ago | bbc.com | Sharon Barbour

'Cancer diagnosis at 19 left me feeling isolated'Sharon BarbourHealth correspondent, North East and CumbriaFamily photoJake Adams was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 19 Jake Adams always dreamed of being a sports journalist, but while studying for his qualification at university in 2019 he was diagnosed with brain cancer at 19. After undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he was told he was tumour free. But his cancer returned and is now incurable.
Newcastle man's eye saved with help of placenta

Feb 19, 2025 | bbc.com | Sharon Barbour

'My eye was saved by a placenta after acid attack'Sharon BarbourBBC North East and Cumbria health correspondentBBCPaul Laskey's eye has been saved with the help of a donated placentaA donated placenta has been used to help save a man's eye after an acid attack. Acid was squirted into Paul Laskey's face causing severe chemical burns to his eye, "melting" both the inner and outer layers of his cornea.
Brain drug cure needed for future 'trapped in' generations

Feb 11, 2025 | bbc.com | Sharon Barbour

'Future generations need cure' for brain disorderSharon BarbourHealth Correspondent, North East and CumbriaBBCSamantha Dennison is at least the fourth generation of her family to have neuroferritinopathy, but her daughter has escaped itA woman who is at least the fourth generation of her family to suffer a "cruel" brain disorder, which leaves people trapped in their own bodies, is hoping a drug trial can give hope to future patients.
Gateshead family in urgent race to get girl cancer drug

Sep 29, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Sharon Barbour

The family of a young girl with cancer say they face a race against time to get her potentially life-saving care abroad. Annabel Ashmore, from Gateshead, needs to start a two-year drug treatment by November to reduce the risk of her aggressive stage four high-risk neuroblastoma (HRN) returning, her parents said. The medication is awaiting approval by the NHS for use in the UK so the five-year-old's parents, Mike and Libby Ashmore, are raising £105,000 to access it in the USA.
NHS waiting lists

Jun 22, 2024 | bbc.com | Sharon Barbour

'I’ve been waiting three years for surgery'By Sharon Barbour, Health correspondent, BBC Look NorthBBCJabar Barzanji, 23, from Newcastle, lost an eye in a car crash that killed his parents when he was a teenagerIn the run-up to the general election, the BBC is looking at the issues that matter the most to you, as part of Your Voice, Your Vote. One theme has been waiting lists for NHS treatment.
Neuroferritinopathy: New hope for sisters trapped in their bodies

Mar 20, 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Sharon Barbour

Neuroferritinopathy is a rare brain condition that traps people in their bodies and seems to largely affect descendants of one family. As a university launches a drugs trial in a hope of reversing its effects, the BBC spoke to the family of four sisters diagnosed with the disease. Liz Taylor was a fit 38-year-old when she found out she was going to lose her ability to walk, talk and even eat.
The strangers who saved each other’s lives

Feb 20, 2024 | bbc.com | Sharon Barbour |Natalie Wright

Image source, AFPImage caption, Marius (left) with Nick (right)By Sharon Barbour and Natalie WrightWith an anonymous stem-cell donation, Marius Werner saved a British doctor's life - and, the young German says, it may have saved him too, giving him purpose when he had felt suicidal. With a rare type of blood cancer, Dr Nick Embleton's only hope was a bone-marrow transplant. And unable to find a match in the UK, the search was extended worldwide.
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust failed to send 400,000 letters

Sep 29, 2023 | news.zordo.in | Sharon Barbour

Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Thousands of medical letters were hidden within the hospital's computer system and not sent outBy Sharon BarbourBBC NewsAn NHS hospital trust in Nottingham failed to send more than 400,000 digital letters and documents to GPs and patients, BBC News can reveal. A former employee has told of "a lack of responsibility" over a new computer system. Patient body Healthwatch said it was "deeply concerned" by the scale of the incident and the impact on care.
Nottingham University Hospitals Trust failed to send 400,000 letters

Sep 29, 2023 | bbc.co.uk | Sharon Barbour

An NHS hospital trust in Nottingham failed to send more than 400,000 digital letters and documents from senior hospital doctors to GPs and patients, BBC News can reveal. A former employee has told of "a lack of responsibility" over new systems. Patient body Healthwatch said it was "deeply concerned" by the scale of the incident and the impact on care. The trust says a full investigation took place in 2017 and found no significant harm to patients.