This autumn, Bethany, portrayed by Lucy Fallon, makes a life-altering decision to undergo liposuction after accepting a job with a cosmetic surgery company. Her role involves writing an advertorial for the company’s new facility in Turkey.
However, the storyline takes a dark turn when Bethany contracts sepsis due to a botched procedure, leaving her in critical condition and requiring a permanent stoma. In next week’s episodes of the ITV soap, her boyfriend Daniel (Rob Mallard) receives a distressing call from Turkey informing him that Bethany is in intensive care. He rushes to inform her mother, Sarah (Tina O’Brien), and together they prepare to travel to Turkey immediately.
Complicating matters, Bethany faces issues with travel insurance that prevent her from leaving until her medical bills are settled. Upon waking, she learns from Sarah that she has been fitted with a stoma bag, which she will need for the rest of her life. In a bid to help, Daniel decides to create a crowdfunding page to raise money for her medical expenses.
Lucy Fallon, 28, emphasizes the significance of this storyline, noting the real-life implications for many who have traveled abroad for cosmetic procedures, sometimes with disastrous results. “I felt honored to take on such an important storyline,” she said. “While it’s challenging and hard-hitting, it’s crucial that we portray these experiences accurately, as they affect real people.”
The show aims to raise awareness about the 200,000 individuals in the UK living with a stoma. Each year, between 13,500 and 21,000 operations are performed by the NHS that lead to stoma formation. The plotline is particularly timely, as recent statistics reveal a 94 percent increase in patients seeking corrective treatments in the UK after undergoing botched cosmetic surgeries abroad, with Turkey being the source of over three-quarters of these cases.
A 2023 study also highlighted that many individuals returning to the UK from cosmetic surgeries abroad face severe complications, including wound healing issues and life-threatening sepsis.
The creative team behind “Coronation Street” has collaborated with Colostomy UK to ensure the storyline is portrayed accurately and sensitively. Giovanni Cinque, Marketing and Campaigns Manager at Colostomy UK, expressed enthusiasm about featuring a character living with a stoma. “We hope Bethany’s journey will educate audiences and promote a greater awareness of the challenges faced by the 200,000 people in the UK with a stoma,” he stated.
This storyline not only aims to entertain but also to inform viewers about the realities of cosmetic surgery and the importance of making informed decisions.
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