REVOLUTIONARY new technology is being introduced at Southend Hospital after it extended the life of a dying woman by five years.

Pat Hudson, who lived on Canvey, was diagnosed with Diffused Systemic Sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension and Osteoporosis, which affects the kidneys, chest and brain, and was initially told by doctors she did not have long to live.

However, she tried Talafil, a new drug offered at the hospital, and although she later died aged 70, a specialist clinic to treat people with conditions that affect connective tissue in the body is now being opened.

Her son Glen, 43, has already raised over £1,200 through various fundraising efforts and said the clinic would help change lives.

“I am delighted as it will help some good come out of something so bad. It may be a small donation to begin with but I am pleased to be the one to set the ball rolling.

“Over 100 people came to mum’s funeral. The new treatment was amazing and it prolonged her life, without a doubt, as well as giving her a much better quality of life.”

It is thought hundreds of people suffering from lupus and forms of sclerosis could have their lives extended through the treatment.

Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta, a leading expert in rheumatology, established a clinical trial that helped Pat Hudson enjoy those five extra years.

He said: “Diseases such as lupus and sclerosis affect many different parts of the body, so patients often have to see lots of different specialists, at different times, for their one disease. This also means that they spend ages trekking round to different departments in the hospital. I hope that this new clinic will be a 'one stop shop,' where the specialists from various departments come together in one place for the patients.”

The new clinic would help educate nurses, provide physiotherapy and give access to the latest treatments.

He added: “Clinical trial drugs can have a massive impact on lengthening an individual’s life. Pat Hudson was given an extra five years, which meant so much to her and her family, so this clinic could really improve life expectancy for people with a variety of diseases.”