NHS waiting times: one woman's agonising delay

A special needs teacher, said she had to endure the wait for surgery on his back problem was atrocious and inhumane

Mary Salisbury, a retired teacher with special needs are advised to have back surgery in June 2010. But the operation did not take place until March 2011, although the rules say that the NHS was conducted in 18 weeks.

"My problems started in 2009. I had an MRI in February 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital in Newport on the Isle of Wight, where I live. But then had to wait until at the beginning of June to see the consultant, when he visited the island once a month from Southampton. immediately recommended an operation called a laminectomy to relieve pressure on the nerve between the vertebrae in my fourth and fifth, I was crushed and cause severe pain, a condition called spinal stenosis.

"The consultant said that the waiting time was about 12 weeks. First, I was told that surgery should be in September or October, then November or December. But he never gave a specific date. Whenever I called Southampton General Hospital in these operations, more and more in the distance. Just before Christmas, they said they would be on January 31 but was canceled. So three subsequent operations, two of them the next day I had stayed in Southampton last night and arrived by following the instructions in 7.30.

• "The surgery has finally arrived on March 23 this year - 42 weeks after the first time I saw the consultant, but one year and six weeks later I had the MRI, which I was now sorted. happy. But wait I endured for the treatment was inhumane and atrocious. I was in much pain, but I have not been treated. He said that priority cases to treated. Why I was not a priority? I was in severe pain and distress, could not sleep and became depressed. I've always been a healthy person and do not need the NHS to advance. However, when I needed was not there for me.
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"The long wait was quite scandalous. It took a year of my life and had a great impact. I could not travel to see my children in the north of England or even go to London. See exhibits, I love I wondered: is expected to be completed once

"which should have been treated in 18 weeks. It is in the constitution of the NHS, but nor care trust my doctor, hospital or primary said why not

"I am angry against the health secretary Andrew Lansley, said that the treatment target of 18 weeks was not effective. He blithely dismissed as irrelevant and said the NHS did not need to comply In fact, 18 weeks would be quite correct - .. if it respected the government should know that many people are waiting over 18 weeks in pain and distress, like me, but simply did not support it. "

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