**** weeks of waiting since my Spinal Surgery referral.

older01

I would normally consider myself as a patient person. After 4 years of waiting to even get a referral for spinal surgery for my scoliosis, I was referred to The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to see a surgeon. That was in March 2024.

After the longest wait, I saw a consultant in November 2024. I wasn’t examined, and no treatment plan was offered. I was instead told that I would have to undergo even more tests to pinpoint my exact pain. I said that I had an MRI in 2023 which clearly identified the root of my pain. Nonetheless, I had three further tests ‘just to be sure’. Last week I saw the consultant again. He has still not offered me surgery. He gave me two small leaflets and told me that I needed to go away and ‘think about it’. He said that he would see me again in 6-12 months time to discuss options. This pathway began in 2019 and here I am still being given excuses in 2025. I have tried to get my local ICB to intervene, but they told me that because I accepted the consultation that They suggested that I would have to stay put. This is wrong on every level. I know that any wait beyond 18 weeks that is beyond the patient’s control should not happen.

Can anyone please help me with any constructive ideas as to what I can do as a patient please?