Former Atomic Kitten star and television personality Kerry Katona has publicly revealed her recent diagnosis with ulcerative colitis, following a harrowing hospital experience that saw her sleeping in a hallway due to severe overcrowding. The 45-year-old mother-of-five detailed the agonising ordeal in her latest column for New! magazine, describing how she was blue-lighted to hospital in excruciating pain.
A Painful Hospital Admission
Kerry explained that she was taken to hospital by ambulance at the end of last week, screaming in such intense agony that paramedics had to administer morphine immediately during the journey. "I was in so much pain I was screaming so the paramedics had to give me morphine there and then," she recounted. Upon arrival, she was shocked to discover the hospital was so full that she spent a full day and night in a bed placed in a hallway before eventually being allocated a proper room.
Understanding Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and open sores in the innermost lining of the rectum and large intestine. The long-term condition typically manifests through symptoms including severe abdominal cramps, chronic diarrhoea that may contain blood, pus or mucus, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. It affects approximately one in every 420 people in the United Kingdom.
Medical experts believe ulcerative colitis to be an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the colon. While the exact causes remain unclear, most theories suggest a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Kerry described her diagnosis frankly, stating: "I've been diagnosed with something called colitis, which is something to do with my bowel. I won't lie it's been s***! Do excuse the pun."
Hospital Overcrowding Concerns
The celebrity's experience has highlighted ongoing concerns about hospital capacity and patient care. Kerry expressed her surprise at the overcrowded conditions, noting: "I was quite shocked to hear all the hospitals are like that at the minute." Her comments come amid continuing pressures on the National Health Service, with many facilities reporting significant bed shortages and extended waiting times for patients requiring admission.
OnlyFans Career and Family Perspectives
In the same column where she revealed her health struggles, Kerry also addressed family dynamics concerning adult content platforms. She weighed in on the public estrangement between former Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward and her pregnant daughter Mia, which began two years ago after Mia started an OnlyFans account.
Despite running her own highly successful OnlyFans account since 2020 - where she reportedly earned £175,000 in her first month alone and millions since - Kerry admitted she would be "devastated" if any of her five children followed her into the industry. However, she emphasised that she would never stop speaking to them over such career choices, stating: "I don't think you should fallout with your child because they're doing OnlyFans, life is too short."
The singer revealed she plans to continue her OnlyFans work well into retirement, teasing that "a certain celebrity pushing 70" is considering joining the platform. She previously explained on Paul C. Brunson's podcast that the financial benefits are too significant to ignore, having helped her recover from bankruptcy.
Living with a Chronic Condition
Kerry's diagnosis represents another health challenge for the celebrity, who has been open about various medical issues throughout her career. Ulcerative colitis requires ongoing management and can significantly impact quality of life through unpredictable flare-ups of debilitating symptoms. The condition often necessitates regular medical monitoring, dietary adjustments, and sometimes surgical intervention in severe cases.
Her decision to share such personal health details publicly may help raise awareness about inflammatory bowel diseases and the realities of living with chronic conditions. It also highlights the intersection between celebrity health disclosures and broader healthcare system challenges, particularly regarding emergency care capacity and patient experience during hospital admissions.
