I was due to have spine surgery on the 20th March but the Spire Hospital where I was referred to had to transfer my care to @LeedsHospitals Neurosurgery Dept as the operation requires ‘HDU back up’. I gave not had any communication from Leeds, but they weren’t accepting https://twitter.com/girl_interrupt_/status/1250368552957358080

referrals from VoYCCG area when my GP initially submitted it in January & @HullHospitals declined the Neurosurgery referral in November 2019. I am now left struggling with debilitating pain due to a centrally prolapsed disc compressing nerves in both legs that causes suicidality

I am reliant on crutches and can barely walk so not exercising. The pain relief options my GP has cause such horrific side effects I collapse with severe migraine & vomiting lasting several days. I’ve tried to contact Neurosurgeons privately to self fund specialist oversight

to no avail, which is understandable in the current health crisis. I’m grateful my GP is trying to contact @LeedsHospitals neurosurgeons & pain management Dept to seek support, but I’m not hopeful. With all elective surgeries cancelled the gov’t have abandoned those who need

on-going Care, even if that translates to remote oversight & pain management. For many patients this medical neglect could lead to permanent disability or even death. I am trying to be very careful about what I do to avoid aggravating my spine because the risks are either

Cauda Equina Syndrome our permanent disability. It’s scary to be left parked on a virtual wait without communication from a specialist Dept as I am literally leaning to the left & cannot even stand up straight..

(Not a photo of me but my body is leaning slightly more than )

It’s appalling that the gov’t just cancelled elective surgeries without making any provision for ongoing medical oversight and have left GP’s to manage a whole shit storm of health problems that are outside their speciality! Total medical negligence @MattHancock & if I had the

energy I’d be obtaining legal advice!