Left in pain by NHS

SIR – “The number of NHS patients waiting longer than 18 weeks for some surgeries is forecast to double within two years” (report, May 4).

In December I was playing squash when I felt my hip give way. I am now on the maximum permitted amount of painkillers and have a wheelchair. The NHS is unable even to give me a date for surgery. “Hopefully July,” they say. In Hampshire at least, this is the norm.

So can we have some honesty from the Government on the crisis? Can sufferers imagine waiting a year for such an operation, as is predicted?

It is said that even to speak about an insurance-led NHS would be suicide for any government. We need a statesman who will put people before his career and fix this problem, which exacts an enormous cost in quality of life and loss of labour.

Mike Kelly Lymington, Hampshire