"In so much pain I'm considering going private"

I first went to my GP in January 2010, I was told I would be referred for a hip replacement. Between January and July, all I had was 2 injections. I went for a pre-assessment appointment but then didn’t hear anything. In November, my husband rung the consultants secretary at Torbay Hospital and she said that I wouldn’t be able to have my operation until 2011. Phone call after phone call and I just got so frustrated not to be getting anywhere so I went back to my GP and asked to be referred to Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Exeter. I felt I had nothing to lose.

Shortly after the Princess Elizabeth had contacted Torbay, all of a sudden they sent me notification that they could give me an appointment on the 17th December. I was so frustrated by the long wait, and I felt I could trust them, so I cancelled the appointment. I asked to be put on the list at the Princess Royal, which is a 3 month waiting list. I’m now on the list at both hospitals, and intended to take whichever appointment came up first but to be honest, I’m in so much pain now, and am anticipating another long wait that I’m considering having the operation done privately and paying for it myself. I feel very disappointed by it all.