Charlotte, from Bristol, says she can’t play with her son, has trouble sleeping and is in excruciating pain
Neil Shaw Network Content Editor
16:46, 14 May 2026
Charlotte says the NHS has refused her breast reduction five times Image: Kennedy News & Media)
A mum says the NHS has refused her breast reduction five times – despite her 32HH breasts being so big that she can’t fit into soft play, sleep easily or play with her son. Charlotte Innes, from Bristol, suffers from back pain so severe that she is unable to play with her three-year-old son Chester Jamie.
The 24-year-old, whose breasts grew to a 32GG during pregnancy, says they leave her in excruciating pain that ‘takes her breath away’. Charlotte says her breasts, which weigh 5kg, make her feel like she is “constantly wearing a weighted vest” – but she says the NHS has repeatedly refused her breast reduction surgery since last September.
Charlotte was diagnosed with kyphosis – an increased curvature of the spine – and two bulging spinal discs in November 2025, which she claims doctors told her is a result of the size of her breasts. 5ft 4in Charlotte, who is a dress size 10, says she takes painkillers “around the clock” to deal with the pain, which leaves her unable to sleep.
Charlotte says she has always struggled with back pain as a result of her boobs (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
The stay-at-home mum says she has had to increase her son’s hours in nursery as she is unable to look after him due to the pain. Charlotte says she feels like her son’s childhood has been ‘ripped away’ from her and is currently waiting to hear back from NHS on the outcome of her sixth appeal.
Charlotte, said: “Now that my son is getting older I’m finding it extremely difficult to be the parent that I want to be with him. I want to be the young mum, going to the park with him, getting in and out of soft play, running around the field playing football. Instead, I’m counting down the seconds until we can go home and I can lie down on a hot water bottle. I can’t run around because it’s unbearable unless I’m holding my boobs tight to my chest, which is so embarrassing.
“Sitting on the floor with him playing games I’m unable to do, or I can for a very short period of time as I have no support on my back. It breaks my heart that I can’t play like my mum used to with me.”
The scan of Charlotte’s spine showing kyphosis (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Charlotte says she is unable to take her son to soft play over fears she would get stuck in the equipment due to the size of her breasts. Charlotte said: “I can’t take him to soft play and stuff because of the thought of if I had to crawl in anywhere to get to him.
“My main concern with soft play is that if I was able to crawl in then I wouldn’t be able to crawl out – which I could understand if it was my nan, but I’m not 80. It’s also a concern that I would be in too much pain to go in and do that as well. I feel like the whole experience of being a mum with a child this age has sort of been ripped away from me – even if I do get a reduction now, by the time I’m fully recovered he’s going to be starting school. I feel like his childhood with me has been ripped away from me.”
Charlotte says she has always struggled with back pain as a result of her breasts – which had previously been a size 30FF – but they grew to a size 32GG during her pregnancy in 2021. She claims she initially approached the doctors to ask about a reduction in 2018, but returned to her GP in September 2025 when the back pain became unbearable.
The 24-year-old’s breasts grew to a 32GG during pregnancy (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Charlotte said: “Throughout pregnancy my breasts were getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Then in the middle of 2025 I was having horrific back pain, which would take my breath away. I couldn’t sit on the floor for more than five minutes with my little boy – it was absolutely ridiculous. I went to the doctor and she put me on painkillers.”
An MRI scan in November 2025 revealed Charlotte was suffering from kyphosis and two bulging spinal discs, which she claims doctors told her is a result of her breast size. Charlotte said: “The MRI scan showed that my spine was a complete ‘S’ shape – it was completely out at the top and then right in at the bottom.
“The doctors said that my back problems are a result of the size of my breasts.” Charlotte has since been receiving physiotherapy treatment but says she had to stop going to the gym because of the severity of the pain. Charlotte said: “I was quite into lifting weights but that had to all stop. Even though physio said to carry on to try and strengthen my back, there’s no exercise that doesn’t put me in excruciating pain.
She can’t fit into soft play with her son (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
“It feels like I’m 24 and I’ve got the body of a 90-year-old. I’m well aware that getting a breast reduction isn’t going to get rid of all my back pain but both my breasts together weigh 5kg – it’s like wearing a weighted vest on you all the time. With all the back problems as well, it’s just ridiculous.” Charlotte claims the NHS have told her that her appeal has been refused due to her providing ‘insufficient evidence’ and she’s now set up a GoFundMe to fund the surgery privately.
If her latest appeal is also refused, Charlotte, who now has to wear a brace while she is at home to help support her spine, says she will be putting in a seventh appeal. She said: “It’s gut-wrenching hearing it come back that you’ve not supplied enough evidence.
“I put on the last appeal that I was in so much pain that if it wasn’t for my son then I would seriously consider not being here because it’s a ridiculous amount of pain for feeling like you’re not being heard. It feels like you’re being passed from pillar to post just for no one to help.
She suffers from back pain so severe that she is unable to sleep (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
“100% I’ll put in a seventh appeal if this one is refused – I’m not giving up yet.”
A spokesperson for the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board said: “The ICB has a robust and evidence-based process for considering exceptional funding requests, which aims to promote consistency, fairness and equity in funding for specialised, non-standard treatments.
Charlotte Innes, from Bristol (Image: Kennedy News & Media)
“Our approach is detailed in the policies available on our website. Requests are carefully considered by the ICB’s exceptional funding team through a screening process, with some cases also going to a panel which meets monthly and is made up of GPs, public health and patient representatives.”