"Denied surgery due to budget restrictions"

Anything else?

I went to my GP in December after discovering a lump in my groin; I suspected a hernia and he told me that my diagnosis was spot on. He referred me to general surgery for a repair. He said that he would want a member of his family to be operated on in such a situation to avoid the small but real chance of complications.

This was acknowledged by the surgeon that I saw at outpatients, and she then became very embarrassed and avoided my eye contact - I don't think I've ever seen a more obvious example of "didn't know which way to look".

She explained that as it was giving no pain then they had been issued a guideline about three months ago that said I could not be referred for repair. It would have to get worse or become a clinical emergency before action. I think that the government has a lot to answer for when medical professionals are being told to deny patients a normal minimal level of health care.