Leeds spine surgery op delays leave man in constant pain

The couple fear further delays could cause serious complications and say Mr Johnson’s symptoms have worsened in the past year.

Mrs Johnson, who is caring for her husband while raising four children aged between three and 13, said life was very different last year.

She said: “We could do all sorts. We went on holiday and he could walk.

“He could stand for a good few hours or periods of time.

“He was taking nowhere near the amount of medication he takes now.

“His spine’s now crushing into his chest and obviously that’s where your organs are. So, potentially, it could become dangerous if he doesn’t have this operation.”

The NHS trust said: “Like other NHS organisations across the country, our services continue to be very busy.

“All patients waiting for surgery are prioritised by clinical need and we know that some people wait longer than we would like.

“Preparing for surgery is complex and so we work closely with patients and their families to make sure treatment will be effective.”

New health secretary Wes Streeting has ordered an independent investigation into NHS performance in England.

It came as the latest waiting time figures for the NHS showed the backlog for hospital care had gone up again, hitting 7.6 million.

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