My long and painful wait for NHS knee surgery has left me depressed

The letter about the need to increase NHS surgical capacity (3 March) from Tim Mitchell, the Royal College of Surgeons president, resonated with me as a patient awaiting a total knee replacement. I have been waiting a year for my surgery so far, with the hospital unable to give me any idea when I may undergo my operation.

From being extremely fit and active, my life has shrunk and become one bounded by pain and immobility. I cannot travel or enjoy my usual activities such as walking, and I am unable to look after my young grandchildren. The impact of this is, not surprisingly, that I feel somewhat depressed. If I have to wait another three years or so for my operation, I wonder what my mental and physical health will be like at that point.

I have realised that there are many other patients like myself – we are at the younger end of the spectrum for this type of routine surgery (I am 66), and we are fit and well other than our need for surgery. We could easily be sent to surgical centres, leaving more complex cases to be seen in hospital.

I have no doubt that there are staffing and other implications for this type of surgery. However, the outcomes for the health, wellbeing and economy of the country of not doing something proactive to address waiting lists for routine surgery are greater.
Alexandra McTeare
Bridport, Dorset

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