"Length of time to wait for an operation."

I had an appointment with Trauma & Orthopaedics on the 04.06.14 to be told I need 2 plates inserted in my neck due to a disc problem. I tried to speak to the consultant's secretory today to be told that she had left for the day. Spoke to another Consultants Secretary only to be told that I will have to wait a year or more for the operation. Yet I got a letter on the 03.07.14 to go to the ward for an assessment, I call the number on the letter just to be told that the Consultant dealing with my problem has a list over a year long, I thought the Hospital had a set plan in place to make sure that we do not have to wait this long. I would be very happy if some one could tell me what is going on.