My story started in 2019 when I was diagnosed with an Aortic Aneurysm which was operated on in September of that year in Wrexham Maelor Hospital. 

It was an eight hour operation and whilst they were dealing with it they then found another Aneurysm which hadn’t been detected but was dealt with there and then. 

After a period of a few weeks in hospital and during my recovery period and now into March 2020 my stomach wall split open along my surgical scar resulting in my current condition which is a large umbilical hernia. 

I was once again referred back to Wrexham in September and during my pre-op testing I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high Cholesterol and then Type 2 Diabetes which resulted in the postponement of my operation until such time as those conditions were under control via medication. 

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It was now late 2021 when I was again called back for pre-op tests and had a CT Scan in readiness for the operation and was within approximately six weeks of having my surgery when non-urgent operations were cancelled due to Covid and during 2022 the situation remained the same. 

In 2023 again I was called back for a meeting with my consultant who told me that he hoped to carry out the operation before Xmas and the operation would take at least eight hours to carry out. 

I had pre-op tests in September and got as far as having a CT scan and was fully expecting to have my operation within six weeks following the scan but to date I have not heard anything since and when I ring them up they just say that they’re awaiting further instructions from my Consultant.

It has now been four years since my original referral and the wait goes on. 

Whilst my condition is classed as non-urgent the operation itself is major and carries life threatening risks and the older I get so the risks will inevitably increase and as I turn 71 in March the outlook is pretty bleak.

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This has had a profound effect on my way of life as the condition has left me in constant discomfort, my self esteem/confidence has taken a battering along with my mental health, it has also affected my relationship with my grandchildren. 

I suffer with anxiety and stress and feel very uncomfortable in social situations and have been mostly isolating myself as a result, fearing interaction in case I pick up a cold/cough or even a chest infection which would cause painful reactions. My feelings these days are frustration, anger and hopelessness.

This is a sad reflection of the current state of this country in these troubling times but I would like to make it clear that I don’t blame the NHS for this but the responsibility lies directly at the doors of No.10 Downing Street and the Senedd in Wales and I certainly don’t buy the excuses of the pandemic and strikes being to blame as large waiting lists were in existence long before the pandemic arrived.
Frank Moore, Newtown