Q: What does 6,366,070
people queuing for nhs treatment look like?

The delay means I find it hard to walk.

Had to give up work and I am in pain most of the time.

I feel very self-conscious that my face looks dry and scabby. I have been given yet another appointment, but I fear it will be postponed.

Pain and difficulty in daily life.

I can't see well enough to be able to legally drive.

It has been hard living with constant dizziness and a chronic cough

I am now quite worried that I won't be seen in a timely fashion which could lead to more problems.

It's a back problem. It means that I can't walk very far or for very long, which is having an impact on my social life as well.

I have constant pain in my injured back and am unhappy about the quantity of analgesics I use

I had to make a lot of phone calls to get permission for my optician to do my sight test.

I have worse mental health and my health problem is worsening. Give the NHS what they need to get back to normal.

I'm having to suffer pain and stress

It's made me very unwell

I am concerned about the deterioration of my liver. I am very tired. I've cancelled a family holiday and missed a family wedding.

I feel like I'm in limbo. It also makes me worry that I've been forgotten.

I was informed the wait for surgery would be at least 2 years after seeing the consultant

It affects my every day living

I had to wait months for an x-ray and now am waiting for the physio. We need to recruit more NHS staff.

Have an almost useless hand. Not helpful when I live alone and have other health issues.

It's affected me a lot. More money need to be invested in the helping people and doctors

I have had a serious decline in breathing due to circulation problems. My quality of life has declined dramatically.

I have difficulty walking due to pain. We need more NHS staff, improved working conditions, better pay and to fund the system properly

I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's and I've been waiting 4 weeks for a non urgent appointment and could still have another 10 weeks.

My eyesight is getting progressively worse.

It has restricted my life dramatically.

I should have started radiotherapy back in May.

I suffer with chronic pain each day. We need to pay the consultants and doctors what they deserve.

The long wait for treatment is negatively impacting me - I am worried that something life changing or life threatening will be missed.

Nerve & muscle issues from scoliosis are worse so I have to take more painkillers. Give the NHS the money it needs.

The delay has had a massive effect on my mental health and caused long term health problems.

I've lost my daily life. I'm in severe pain. I have no ability to achieve daily jobs in house. It's a loss of independance.

I'm living with a bulge in my groin, which was the results of a bodged hernia operation, for years. It's uncomfortable and often painful.

Every single day I have to consider how and what I can do physically without causing extreme discomfort

I had to wait 1 year 6 months to get a diagnosis. I ended up losing so much weight, which is affecting my life and work.

Worry, pain and discomfort. I have been told there is an 11 month waiting list for my Urology referral 1st appointment.

I am housebound in a wheelchair until I get the knee replacement I need.

I am in constant pain. We need to properly fund the NHS now.

I have limited mobility

The delay has caused constant pain and broken sleep. Invest in the NHS.

It has caused me difficulty in getting to sleep by causing a persistent cough as soon as I lay down.

I can rule out the whole of the last year, as I've been in so much pain, I've not been able to even get dressed.

I have been waiting for assessment and treatment and due to my illness on top of my other disabilities it's made things worse.

I had surgery in 2021 which went wrong, affecting my life. I have been told it will be another year before I get another appointment. Fix the NHS.

I do not accept that this delay is acceptable in a first world country

I'm in increasing discomfort each month. Can’t stand for more than a hour, it used to be 3 hours.

Waiting for ADHD treatment has affected my personal life as well as my wife's life.

I've been bounced back four times, appointments have been cancelled within a week of getting them. We need to put more money into the NHS.

I'm struggling to walk and cannot breathe properly.

It's affecting my mobility and walking.

I am unable to carry out day to day activities. We need to give NHS staff a decent pay rise, retain the experience, and treat them properly.

I am in discomfort with bouts of pain. Also have anxiety by not having had a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Not been able to get back into full time employment so I can fully run my house or afford to eat. Give the NHS the tools to do its job.

It's causing anxiety. I'm waiting for a biopsy on possible skin cancer.

Increased pain and debilitation in back and legs.

The delay has meant the cancer is bigger.

I've had this issue for more than a year. I am in pain and discomfort

My left leg has got weaker and more painful. I can no longer manage any steps which limits my life enormously

I have a date for an operation, which had been put back again. I am self-employed so I cannot accept any work for the period after my operation.

It has been devastating and I am in constant pain 24 hours a day.

The delay has caused suffering and a lot of pain.

It has made it highly stressful

Anxiety about my skin condition. I have pre cancerous growths that need treatment.

I've been waiting for a consultation before my back surgery. Its a waiting game. Just frustrating and drainng.

Cataracts are getting worse - vision in left eye is now very poor!

I am fearful and anxious that problem will flare back up resulting in emergency admission or operation.

I'm having to stop driving through worsening eyesight.

I'm waiting for injections in my back. I'm in chronic pain and injections do help for a short while. However, I can't get to see a doctor.

I'm not able to keep up with the kids when out and about.

I'm anxious, depressed and frustrated

The delay has caused problems, pain and discomfort - but biggest problem no respite care while I recover.

It has devastated my life and seriously affected my mental health; basically I now have very little life at all, except attending to the essentials

Acute respiritory issue left undiagnosed awaiting spirometry test, leaving me in a dibilitating condition. Provide more resources for testing.

It's affected my mental health badly, I am now in poor physical condition and it's had huge impacts on my relationship.

We need more training, more money, more staff. It's not rocket science

I am stuck with the issue that needs surgical correction. I can't plan travel or move jobs in case it messes with a surgery date.

I had a dermatology appointment and they said the next one should be 6-12 weeks; it's been 6 months.

The delay has been devastating for mobility and pain, sleeping..

I am still trying to get on a waiting list, it's been delayed four months after previously waiting three and a half years for a foot operation

It's made me depressed that I can't get help with my problem.

The delay is making me depressed and worried.

I have lost hearing in one ear, for nearly a year now. I find it difficult to socialise because of this.

I have been waiting for a consultation - my condition is worse so it's difficult to go about my day now.

I have been left in limbo.

I waited over 4 hours in A&E and have now waited 8 months for an appointment. The government needs to get their fingers out and pay the staff fairly.

Finding difficulty in walking, sleeping. The pain very bad and getting worse.

It's made me depressed. The government need to sit down with doctors and nurses and ask what they need.

I have a cyst in my stomach area, which is very painful on a daily basis.

I have been suffering from stress, confidence issues, and depression since I was diagnosed back in 2015. Now I'm signed off work indefinitely.

I have a hiatus hernia and it affects my breathing badly. It's getting worse and affecting my everyday life. My food and drinks get stuck.

I haven't been able to work. Put a realistic amount of money into the NHS. Change the postcode lottery and ensure all areas receive equal treatment.

I had a further health crisis which if the investigation went ahead could have avoided emergency admission?

I'm stuck waiting for a pain management appointment. I'm going through constant pain.

The Government needs to find a way to reduce the list.

It's made my anxiety, autism and learning disability worse.

I've been housebound for 3 years

Provide the NHS with the funding to do the job

This has been incredibly stressful, I was not able to walk any distance for 4 months, resulting in depression and frustration.

My bones have fused. I'm now using a wheelchair.

Waiting for rheumatology, I have osteoporosis, broke my toe. It cannot heal without medical help.

My career has now ended yet had the treatment been available I might have been well enough to work a few more years.

My surgery has been cancelled 3 times. I need more operations because of the wait. Everything is a chore - I don't want to move because of the pain.

I'm in pain all the time, which affects my every day life.

Because of hip pain have had to give up part time care work.

I was a very active person, now can barely walk or do physical exercise. I am languishing and less likely to live long, as I am deprived of exercise.

I am waiting for trauma therapy to deal with my CPTSD. I am currently unable to work and am living alone and am getting zero support.

They keep putting my appointment off. This has affected my sleeping and hearing. How long before I get my sleep sorted and hearing fixed?

I am in constant pain, am unable to drive, unable to easily look after my house or myself

On a day to day basis I can't urinate.

It's affecting me on a daily basis.

My symptoms are getting worse, impacting on my asthma, making life difficult and causing me stress.

I'm in discomfort and occasionally in pain. I am anxious about what can happen to me if the operation is still postponed.

My life is on hold now. Pay doctors and nurses fairly.

Been brought to a standstill.

The delay has resulted in me becoming more of a recluse and never wanting to got out

I'm in permanent agony.

It feels like the NHS has stopped working unless there's an emergency. Start funding the NHS properly as it used to be.

I've had to put up with pain longer than necesssary.

I'm registered disabled and struggle daily with health issues.

Been on a waiting list for dermatology since July, my most significantly years are put on hold waiting for surgery.

I have learned to live with the problem.

Its having a big impact on my life, causing problems with other parts of my body - painful to walk and sit down.

Imposed disability prevents me from leading a normal life and prevents me from doing what I really want to do.

It could have been life limiting

I've waited over 2 years for a triple bypass operation. During that time my pain has limited my normal activities every day.

The wait has been stressful and painful. Why are we not being seen at the right time? Give more to the NHS and its staff.

I'm physically ok, but my mental health has suffered & it’s been a nightmare for family and friends.

I have been waiting for my mastectomy and breast reduction to be completed for five years. I feel let down mentally and physically.

I am in a lot of pain, and I can't walk far.

I am worried because I have advancing glaucoma. Without regular treatment, I could lose my sight.

No word of how long it will be for surgery. I am in daily pain waiting.

The delay has made everyday more worrying

I'm experiencing pain and discomfort. As well as depression, stress and anxiety.

Unable to exercise properly so my fitness has reduced. Psychologically difficult too.

I'm losing sight in my right eye. The hospital are having problems and now I'm waiting for another operation.

I can't travel far and my usual activities are severely curtailed because of the delay.

I have been told my wait to get an initial appointment will be about ten months then no idea about getting treatment.

The pain has got worse and it has affected my mobility.

Being on the waiting list causes discomfort and disrupts my normal way of life.

I have acute pancreatitis I am also diabetic been waiting 2 months for treatment, I am in increasing pain.

Very fearful of requiring rapid attention. Following a stroke I waited over hours for an ambulance and a further four hours on a trolley.

I twisted my knee on the 4th August, my knee is still painful, still taking painkillers, not sleeping well and my mobility has been greatly reduced.

A large percentage of us cannot afford private care and we matter just as much as those who can

I'm embarrassed about my condition.

The pain is horrendous, causing anxiety and discomfort. I need help to walk.

I need treatment and without it I am still suffering.

The delay has made day to day life incredibly hard and uncomfortable

I struggle to walk and sometimes experience intense pain.

Shoulder replacement. Surgery was due last April and it's getting increasingly more painful.

The impact this has had on me is devastating, I am scared to go out because I can't see properly to be able to cross roads safely.

I am in danger of having falls. We need to put more money into the NHS

My illness is getting worse and my conditions getting worse.

I have suffered dizzy spells, a few falls, nausea which should be controlled by medication.

I have lockjaw and cannot eat or speak properly. Take the nation's health more seriously. Stop pretending to care about the NHS and fund it properly.

The delay has impacted my quality of life, having to adjust certain areas of life. Feeling older than my years with difficult symptoms.

Everything is slowly getting worse. I still don't know when I'll be treated

The delay has given me poor quality of life

My condition is worsening and causing me considerable embarrassment as well as pain.

I've had increasingly limited mobility during the past 1 year 6 months

I am in increasing amounts of pain and my activities have been affected.

My mobility is severely impaired and I am unable to perform a large number of day to day tasks or walk for more than a few minutes.

It has had a huge Impact on my mental health and well being. Financially detrimental. It has affected my workplace.

We need emergency measures to get the NHS working again

I can't talk through aspects of my health which may get worse if neglected. The message from the surgery is only to phone for urgent appointments.

I am waiting to see my Rheumatologist referred in January, they hope to see me in March next year!

Can't work, as I have no use of my left arm due to wrist damage.

I'm unable to get treatment for a very painful foot , limping around in pain for week. It's made me feel really low and depressed!

Mobility has severely deteriorated and pain levels increased.

I've had to pay privately for a diagnosis of Parkinson's. I'm now back on the NHS waiting list for treatment.

I cannot use my right arm. I need help to wash, dress, feed, and go to the toilet.

I have not been able to work since November last year as I need a new knee. I was forced out of my home and can't afford private renting.

I've had to reduce my working hours and am in pain constantly. My income is significantly lower due to reduced ability to work.

The wait is having dreadul impact on my life. We need to increase the NHS workforce.

I'm still not able to go out as the pain is causing me not to be able to walk properly

This has significantly damaged my quality of life.

I need questions answered on a throat problem, I was originally referred in Jan 2023 and am currently being offered an appointment in Jan 2024.

The delay means I have lost mobility

I suffer with mental health and I can honestly say that there is NOT any help out there for it.

I'm concerned about my heart following an atrial fibrillation episode and want to see someone for advice.

My knee is getting progressively worse and instead of a simple arthroscopy I may need a knee replacement.

It's depressing

I’m waiting for confirmation if I have a condition which, if not treated, can lead to blindness. 9 months later, I am becoming increasingly anxious.

I am worried that my problem will get a lot worse

It is a constant irritation every day.

Immediately pour more money into the NHS - mprove pay and conditions for doctors and nurses. Stop letting private health firms' exploite the NHS.

My shortness of breath has become worse.

The delay means I can't hear

I had a a cyst burst, but because I am a trans person, healthcare is almost non existent & the waiting lists for trans health care moves into decades

Hardly any face-to-face appointments, since Covid, it has been a total disgrace.

It's caused me stress and complications.

Life is difficult and I cannot do my daily tasks with ease.

I was referred 2 months ago for micro suction treatment on my right ear still waiting to receive an appointment.

Can't plan my life, fear and constant anxiety that the condition will go critical and become life-threatening.

I have pain which could perhaps be alleviated with treatment. Pay doctors and nurses a proper rate for the job to discourage them going elsewhere.

My problems of urination have made my life a nightmare.

I have limited activity. The people in charge must resign.

I've had to spend my savings for treatment

Living in limbo not knowing if your going to survive the waiting.

I can't walk or do any excercise anymore. Give the staff that gave their all during the pandemic a decent pay rise.

I hardly go out. Get waiting times back to 18 weeks

I have a heart problem that should be minor, but without regular check-ups it's not safe to take the right medication to control it

It's very stressful and painful. We should have kept some of the nightingale hospitals and staffed them to get the waiting lists down.

I'm having to take early retirement and losing thousands of pound from my pension by going 11 months early.

Apart from constant back pain, problems with my stomach, make me nervous to look for a job, in case I have to use the toilet about 7/8 times a day.

My pain has increased to the point where I find it difficult to do certain everyday tasks.

Not only has it stopped me from enjoying the things I normally do. It's also affected my mental health and wellbeing.

It has affected me deeply, causing well over a year and half of high anxiety, due to worsening symptoms that doctors struggled to diagnose.

Suffering with displaced lens in my right eye, I suffer constant headaches, frequent dizzy spells, falls and blurred vision. I am becoming reclusive.

Affected my daily activitues like restricting walking and doing any exercise due to a prolapse.

I have already had to consult a private knee surgeon and had to move to a ground floor flat cause of this issue. Pay the staff and stop them leaving.

It means I dont know what is causing my problems, leading back to having Covid last year

I’m waiting for a knee replacement. I used to be active but now have limited mobility which stops me doing the things I love.

The condition has got worse and more painful. Negotiate a sensible pay deal for all NHS staff.

Recently, I accidentally took a paracetamol overdose, and was in A&E for 10 hours, trying to treat myself because getting a referral is a nightmare.

Pain above the hernia so have be careful what I do - my condition is getting worse with more being added on.

It's caused me uncertainty and depression