"Long waiting lists"

I must agree with the reviewer on this topic. My close friend and neighbour, a caring unselfish lady who never complains, has reached the point where she has been told that she needs surgery. She was told in April that the waiting time was currently 11 months but that efforts were being made to reduce it. Since that time I have watched her pain increase, and her mobility and quality of life diminish rapidly. We concern ourselves that people should not die in pain but it seems of less concern that people are living in severe pain that could be alleviated by surgery. As a former NHS Director of Nursing and CEO of a provider unit to the NHS, I have experience of the problems from both sides. This major centre of excellence is failing to help patients with some of the most complex problems and this is a situation that must be addressed urgently.