I just feel so useless. No one wants to be a burden

Mum-of-three Venita Maclean, 55, from Fochabers, says she has repeatedly been left suicidal after waiting up to 22 months for painkilling injections to her spine.

Venita said: “I had a silly accident just over 10 years ago when I fell against a fridge and the pain has caused all kinds of spinal problems.

“I’m supposed to get at least two spinal injections a year, maybe three if the pain gets too bad.

“But I’ve waited 22 months between the last two injections.

“Other times have been well over a year between treatments.

“Being in agony, knowing it could be a year or maybe almost two before you get the pain relief you need, leaves you suicidal.

“Nobody wants to be a burden on their family. You just feel useless and there is no end in sight when you can’t even get an injection to stop the pain.”

Venita used to get treated at her local hospital in Elgin. But after her specialist left in 2011, Venita has to travel to get treatment in Aberdeen.

She said: “If I get an early morning appointment, my husband John has to take me to Aberdeen and we stay in a hotel as I daren’t miss my place in the queue.

“I’ve spent hours on the phone to see if I can get a cancellation to be seen quicker.”

Grampian Health Board says it has experienced problems recruiting staff for chronic pain treatment.