A former NHS worker who fell into addiction after leaving the job has now thanked her former employer - for saving her life. Kim Targett, 53, began working in the NHS in 1988 but had to leave her job in 2018.
After losing her income, she was unable to find a new job due to an injury - eventually becoming homeless and dependent on alcohol. In December 2021 she was admitted to Derriford hospital after spending several days incapacitated on the floor, where she was found to be suffering from prolonged liver dysfunction.
She was only found after her friend Julie, working at University Hospital Plymouth, raised concerns with the police after Kim stopped posting on social media. As a result she developed a serious and potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy.
