endoscopy

"The areas that have been a particular challenge are endoscopy, where we've lost capacity, and planned orthopaedic operations," said Paul Mears, chief executive of the health board.

A network of Community Diagnostic Centres, which provide appointments such as scans and endoscopies in local neighbourhoods, will extend their opening hours to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

She also had to have a gastric tube fitted, lines inserted to allow nutrition, and multiple endoscopies, in which a camera is inserted into the body to investigate a condition.

Chest surgery involving the lungs, or endoscopies, for instance, could one day be performed with the help of such technology.

A blood test carried out shortly before the endoscopy showed Claire's blood was clotting far too quickly - something that put her at increased risk of developing a clot.