AN aspiring civil engineer who experienced complications while recovering from cancer has praised a self-testing drug service for helping him to carry on with his academic success.

At the age of 19, Danny Taberner, from Westleigh, suffered a pulmonary embolism during his recovery of testicular cancer.

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream.

Danny combined studying for his graduate and masters degrees with treatment for his condition with a self-testing service, which lets him know how much warfarin he needs to take.

Warfarin is a blood-thinning drug used in the UK and is given to patients to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or other serious conditions.

Around 3,250 people in the borough take it.

Health bosses are now urging more people to sign up for the service.

Now 24, Danny said: “Self-testing gave me the freedom to work here, there and everywhere without having to go to the clinic.

"The service allowed me to enhance my career and pursue my ambitions as a civil engineer.”

The service is safe, easy to use and allows patients to carry out routine tests at home instead of having to visit a clinic or GP surgery every few weeks for check-ups.

The NHS wants more users to sign up for the service, which is free and available via GP surgeries courtesy of Wigan Borough Federated Health Care.

It launched in 2015 and has been well received by users and GPs alike.

Patients are given a self-testing device worth £300 which allows them to take International Normalised Ratio (INR) readings and send these, via Inhealthcare’s technology, to their clinic.

Any readings out of range instantly generate an alert for clinical attention.

GP Dr Alastair Thompson said: “Getting patients to self manage is key because it improves the effectiveness of medication.

"It also increases collaboration between clinicians and patients, which leads to better health outcomes.”

The technology is provided by Inhealthcare.

Chief executive of Inhealthcare Bryn Sage said: “We are delighted with Danny’s progress to date and are proud to have played a small role in his recovery.

"This service isn’t just for young people like Danny.

"We have users who are in their late eighties who love our technology because it is so easy to use.”

For Warfarin patients interested in joining the service visit warfarin-at-home.co.uk/wigan, call 01942 303030 or email contact@warfarin-at-home.co.uk.