A PORT Glasgow heart patient is fronting a campaign at the Scottish Parliament to help people take control of their own treatment.

Mary Hemphill, 40, is recovering from the latest in a series of heart operations and she relies on a combination of drugs to keep her healthy, including betablockers, water tablets and anticoagulants such as Warfarin to prevent blood clots.

Mary, pictured, who lives in Dougliehill Place with husband Kenny and 13-year-old daughter Anna, has now lodged a petition at Holyrood to allow patients to self-test their blood to determine how much Warfarin should be administered.

She said: “We know that people with diabetes previously required their levels checked by a medical provider but diabetes patients are now actively encouraged to self test.

“Many Warfarin patients are independent, working people, perfectly able to self test and feel they deserve the same right to manage their condition, regardless of their age.” Mary was born with a congenital heart condition and oesophageal atresia, which means a piece of the oesophagus which connects to the stomach, is missing.

She had to be tube-fed until the problem was addressed by medics at Yorkhill.

Mary’s heart condition started to deteriorate again 13 years ago following the birth of her daughter.

She’s undergone several life-threatening operations since then and is currently recovering from a third valve operation which took place in February.

Mary said: “I was very ill after the first operation, really ill, it was touch and go.” Patients with Mary’s condition usually attend a hospital and GP surgery where a blood sample is taken, analysed and interpreted by a doctor, who then adjusts the dose of Warfarin if necessary.

But portable devices now allow patients to self test their blood levels at home and Mary believes this should be standard practice.

Mary, a manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgage Centre, said: “I wanted to self test to take ownership of my long term condition and measure my anti-coagulation levels, provided that it was safe and effective to do so, and requested help to achieve this.

“I was very surprised to learn that there is no national model of care for patients and my request was refused. I was told it was at the directive of Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, because I do not work away from home and could therefore attend my local clinic.” Mary has been self testing since last September after taking her complaint to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

In a parliamentary debate last year, the then-health minister Michael Matheson said he didn’t support a national roll-out of self-testing across Scotland, citing the fact that many Warfarin users are elderly.

However Mary and her co-petitioner, a patient from Dunfermline, hope that their campaign will bring change.

Anyone who wants to sign the petition, which closes on 4 May, should visit www.scottish.parliament.uk/gettinginvolved/petitions/warfarinselftesting