Health · 10 July 2026
Benfleet woman has UK's first bladder removed after ketamine addiction
Photo by Lemniscate L on Pexels
Liv McCaul, a 25-year-old business owner from North Benfleet, had her bladder removed due to severe damage from a 15g-a-day ketamine habit. She underwent an eight-hour robotic operation on June 6 to create an internal Indiana pouch, which is emptied via a catheter through her belly button. Liv believes she is among the first in the UK to have this procedure, with her father paying for the surgery not covered by the NHS.
Reported by Southend Echo · How we write briefs