A 45-year-old man has been left in severe pain and unable to work while waiting two-and-a-half years for surgery at Queen’s Hospital.
David Mason, of Coltsfoot Path, Harold Hill, suffers from arthritis of the spine and last week fell down the stairs and broke his elbow because of the condition.
Queen’s medical director Stephen Burgess described the delay as “totally unacceptable” and is investigating as to how it could have happened.
In December 2012 Mr Mason hoped that his misery would be over when he went to the Rom Valley Way hospital for back surgery.
But after a confusion over his medication, he was sent home and told he would have to wait another six months for the operation to be rearranged.
“But they went and lost my paperwork,” Mr Mason said.
“The wait has made my back even worse and I have trouble walking.
“It’s getting beyond a joke.”
The former mechanic now has his arm in a full plaster cast because of his recent fall which he believes was related to his condition.
He was walking down the stairs when his spine “pinched” his nerves and he fell down.
“My legs just go like jelly,” he said. “I came down with quite a thud.”
He was then told that in order to have surgery he must visit his GP and start the process again.
“They are stuffing up left, right and centre,” he said.
Mr Mason said he remains in serious pain and is unable to work.
“I’m on the strongest possible pain killers I can get,” he said “Because of my back I can’t stand for long and I’m on so much medication because of the pain so I can’t work.”
Mr Burgess said: “I would like to apologise to Mr Mason for the delay in his treatment. This is totally unacceptable and I will be looking into how this happened.
“We are arranging for Mr Mason to be seen by a specialist as soon as possible.”
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