A WEST End musician is “over the moon” after a decision to refuse him funding for an operation was overturned.

Stuart Jenkins, of Torr Road, Penge has been suffering for five years from refractory gastroparesis - a rare diabetic condition where the stomach cannot empty itself due to a damaged nerve.

As a result it causes the 47-year-old to vomit up to 20 times a day and prevents him from playing his beloved trumpet.

He has lost more than 4st in weight and spends 10 hours a day in a warm bath to combat the pain and nausea he suffers.

The professional freelance musician, who plays in the Royal Opera House Tea Dance Orchestra, is to have an operation to fit a gastric pacemaker in his torso next month.

Bromley Primary Care Trust refused to fund the £15,000 operation because it did not have evidence the treatment was effective.

Mr Jenkins, who says he spends two days in hospital every two weeks, has successfully appealed against the decision.

He said: “I am absolutely over the moon.

“I should not need to go into hospital anywhere near as often.

“I won’t be sick all the time and won’t get dehydrated.

“It means I can go back to work, which is ever so important to me.”

Gastric pacemakers are not approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the body which offers guidance to the NHS on what treatment to give to patients.

But Mr Jenkins says they bring about a two thirds reduction in hospital admissions for those with refractory gastroparesis.

He believes he will be back to full health two months after the treatment.

The trumpeter added: “I am ever so looking forward to my operation.

“I love playing the trumpet, I’ve been playing it since I was five years old.

“I would have chopped my head off if it meant I could go back to work.”

A spokesman for Bromley PCT said they could not comment due to patient confidentiality.