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

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

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

One endless trawl that's left me exhausted mentally and physically. It has affected my trust and left me feeling like I'm on a production line.

I have COPD and have waited to see the respiratory team.

Affecting general health & wellbeing.

I am living with daily discomfort and pain while waiting for a simple operation. We need to raise the pay for the staff and retain them.

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

I waited for a procedure which took so long to book.

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

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.

Severely restricted weight bearing activity for 8 months whilst waiting for a diagnosis has heavily impacted me both physically and emotionally.

I limp and need a walkig stick

Pain! I virtually never go out and I'm very depressed.

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.

I need ops on both eyes and I can’t drive my car. I have lots of pain. If I want to see doctors I have to think how I will get there etc.

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

I live in fear of my tumours growing to a point where they become inoperable.

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 get up through the night, 3-9 times. I’m worn out with lack of quality sleep. I still have to work full-time at 70 and it just gets harder.

My arthritic knees have become more painful. There are so many activities I can no longer do, like gardening, sitting comfortably, and sleeping.

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.

Frustrated, painful, sleepless nights, unable to walk, so many hurdles including Covid.

I find it difficult to arrange overseas travel in case of treatment being offered.

I am waiting for dental treatment which is affecting my food intake.

I need to use a stick now whilst waiting for treatment. We need to invest more in training and stop the cost to student nurses in training.

It’s causing inactivity as I am unable to undertake many physical tasks. It affects too many normal activities, which lends to worry and depression.

My partner has bowel cancer, his initial surgery + chemo was rapid but the follow up which has been virtually non existent.

A great deal of pain and limited mobility due to spinal damage, have been told that I will not have the procedure until jan/Feb 24

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

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

It's affecting my mental health. We need to employ more staff

Quite debilitating hip pain which has worsened dramatically in the wait time. It affects my mobility, sleep and consequently my enjoyment of life.

I'm having to suffer pain and stress

The worry about the PSA test is high and I am concerned that no medic has reviewed me

It has meant it was too late to prevent the nerves and muscles being caught in time, so I am left with this for the rest of my life.

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

There is uncertainty about my provisional diagnosis.

I am still suffering and not getting any better my quality of life is now very low

I am waiting for a treatment to slow down the progression of a life-threatening disease. It makes me anxious.

Unable to go out and enjoy our life

Walking is getting harder and harder. We need to hire more staff.

Its completely changed my life.

Unable to carry out normal day-to-day tasks due to chronic pain.

It has restricted my mobility.

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

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

The delay means I can't hear

My surgery keeps getting postponed, which is making me anxious. I have had to cancel any long term plans and activities while I wait.

I can't work until my medical problems are bought under control. I am trapped.

People will not join the NHS while the pay is low and pressure is so great.

Have suffered pain and stress

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

I belive I will die soon as I have heart problems and can't get appointments for cardiac care.

I was told I would have to wait a year. So far it's been six months

The delay has meant getting more osteoarthritis in the knee

The problem causes inconvenience, distress, embarrassment and discomfort and impacts my social life.

My eyesight is deteriorating badly. I am worried sick about losing my sight.

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

In severe pain, due to lower back spinal nerve problem. Unable to do anything, can't walk far, can't sleep.

I've been in pain. We need to put a lot more money into the NHS

Without treatmeat I could go blind. I moved 6 months ago and my treatment has yet been transferred. I am still travelling to Margate from London.

Waiting for an operation to remove a lump on my hand and told it could be 65 weeks. Give the NHS more money and settle pay claims with the staff.

I've had years of pain making it impossible to have a normal life. I'm relying on my daughters - as I'm unable to drive, use public transport etc.

It has restricted my life dramatically.

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

My way of life has deterated.

Tooth abscess for one year with violent headaches, swollen eyes, cheeks and face. Stop privatising the NHS.

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

We need emergency measures to get the NHS working again

The delay in treatment has left me in daily pain. It has effected my ability to work and left me unable to work full time.

The discomfort has substantially affected my way of life, I am unable to do what I have always done.

My mental health has deteriorated significantly, I hardly leave the house.

I have been waiting for a hip replacement since last spring. The pain severely limits my capacity for exercise and means I feel exhausted.

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

I very been waiting for a right knee replacement since 2020, due to this my left knee has had to compensate and now I need my left knee replaced too.

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

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.

I have been in constant chronic pain throughout my body with severe weight loss, I was also bedridden.

I am 78 and have been left unable to walk or live independently. The Government needs to act instead of trying the public to just accept this!

It has caused anxiety, affected my work, l have had pain, and am still waiting for it to be sorted out.

My condition is worsening in the absence of meaningful treatment

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

The delay affected me as I had to wear a catheter during this period.

I am very anxious. I have skin cancer and cannot get routine treatment to have it removed. I've been told maybe not until after April 2024.

I am waiting for a right hip replacement. I was put on the list 12 months ago. In that time my pain has increased & my mobility decreased.

It's debilitating having to have a catheter fitted for so long. I haven't got an appointment for a consultation yet, let alone an operation.

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

I'm concerned my sight might be deteriorating.

I am disabled and this causes more stress, which aggravates the condition, private treatment is not an option.

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

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

I'm in pain, and have no maneuverability

Been brought to a standstill.

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 had to retire from my role as a midwife and was forced to take full retirement.

Been referred every year since but still no appointment

I am in chronic pain day and night, and now very limited mobility which affects my life on a daily basis.

The delay is causing absolute misery

Lost hope that I will ever receive a diagnosis or treatment. Constantly being told the waiting time has been extended. Depressed.

Apart from the obvious health & stress of not getting the treatment, it ultimately led to significant outlay for private treatment.

Provide the NHS with the funding to do the job

My wait for a heart operation causes anxiety that makes separate breathing problem worse.

The delay has left me with less mobility - more pain

I am a widower and live alone so this operation is vital for me as the wait is affecting my life.

The delay affects my day-to-day life and my sleep.

I waited over 18 months for a urology appointment, which means I've had to always be mindful of how long journeys take & where the nearest toliet is!

I waited over two years for one hip and two years for the other hip.

Less mobility and needless pain.

My ear appointment was cancelled because of Covid and after several failed attempts, my GP had referred me again. I’m anxious as a result.

The delay has meant increased pain and impaired ability to carry out everyday activities.

My right eye needs a pterygium removing, if not soon it will turn my eye blind.

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 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.

It's affecting my mobility and walking.

I'm still unwell, isolated at home and unable to have normal life.

I have major mobility issues and pain.

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

The delay has left me with worried and anxious.

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

My pain is increasing. I don't get paid when off sick. It has meant my life is on hold. I can't plan anything

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

It's causing me pain and has reduced my quality of life.

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

Not knowing the outcome of test I've just had, to test for pancreatic Cancer, will I be able to be cured ??

I am on two different waiting lists and it's been a very painful year.

Six week wait for a call back for a condition. As an ex paramedic I am appalled at waiting times.

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

Mobility has severely deteriorated and pain levels increased.

My mobility is in a negatively affected.

It has made it highly stressful

Increased pain and debilitation in back and legs.

I was a victim of an armed robbery. I have been waiting to see a psychotherapist and trauma therapist. I now have PTSD and a panic disorder.

It's caused me uncertainty and depression

I've been waiting two months for a mere examination - my swallowing has got worse, takes my care worker much longer to feed me.

My short eye sight has deteriorated making every thing I do time consuming.

My hearing is very poor, and it is affecting my ability to work.

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

I'm living in 24/7 pain with osteo-artheritis / cartilege

I am in constant pain and stress.

I have to take care living with a Hernia

I am in pain constantly.

I've been left in limbo without up to date symptom management.

I lost my job due to ill health. We need to recruit people and then pay them properly.

It's affected my daily routine and lifestyle. We need to speed up recruitment at all levels and put the appropriate funding in place

The delay means my mental health has gotten worse, and without the care I need I'm experiencing hostility and concerns for my safety in my college.

My mobility has become restricted and I am in constant pain. Redress the damage done by consistent underfunding now.

Hernia has got worse, and more painful. Hire more NHS staff.

I have decreased mobility

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

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

Pain in legs when standing and walking, plus sometimes when sitting. My speed of walking has been reduced by up to 50%.

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

I am waiting for a hip replacement. I am in excruciating pain 24/7. We need more doctors and we need to pay them better!

It meant whilst it was accepted I needed mental health support I was left suffering complex trauma.

I'm half way through a 78 week wait for a wrist fusion. It's difficult to do most things with my right wrist.

I am 69 years old. A heart condition is affecting my quality of life. If I have to wait a year, that could be 20% of my remaining life span.

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

I am very concerned that the longer I wait for treatment the more my family will suffer as I am very likely to take more looking after!

I'm struggling with my eyesight. I'd like to see Iinvestment and recruitment, with better wages

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

I'm now stuck on steroids and heart medication.

You just have to get on with it. I'd like the government to take the money off their mates and put it into the NHS.

It is having a massive impact on my health and mental wellbeing. I was diagnosed with heart disease and am waiting to see a cardiologist.

I am 75 and have been waiting 6 months for a health checkup. Stop privatising and fund the NHS adequately.

I'm in constant pain and unable to do many tasks at home, so putting pressure on my wife who needs to work full time for our family.

Possible recurrence of problem in kidney function due to kidney stone. This almost killed me in March this year, when I developed sepsis.

I have back pain and severe sciatica affects my mobility and sleep. I cannot live as full a life as I’d like.

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's affecting me on a daily basis.

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

The delay affects my life daily in everything

I have had to endure endless cancelled appointments and delays of over six months when I was very ill and anxious

I am waiting for a CT scan - so stressed and worried about my health. Stop letting private contractors make money off our NHS and fund it instead.

I have heart failure and was told they were going to fit a pacemaker then told we would see how the medication works.

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

Just the waiting and not knowing how important my procedure is to my health is impacting me

I have had to give up all my exercise groups, walking group etc. Due to lack of exercise I've put on 6kg and have become depressed.

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 have learned to live with the problem.

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

I am on waiting list for ADHD diagnosis, this delay is causing huge problems as I am unable to access any support until I am diagnosed officially.

An indication of how long I have to wait would be nice. I am in discomfort and losing sleep over this.

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

It has meant I can't do my job. I'm a driver so I need to be tested by a specialist to say I'm fit to drive. Just fund the NHS properly.

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

This has significantly damaged my quality of life.

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

My pain levels get progressively worse which has a knock on effect on my other conditions.

I have chronic Obstructive Sleep Apnoea which adversely affects my sleep and increases the risks of life-threatening conditions.

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

My quality of life has been greatly affected

I'm waiting for a rotator cuff injection including x-ray.

My eyes are deteriorating

I am waiting for an MRI scan. I had to give up my job, as I was no longer able to do heavy work.

It's a living hell waiting time for ambulance. Numerous times trapped on floor awaiting next day having to pee in vase.

It's affected my mobility

I suffer chronic pain on a daily basis which is becoming worse the longer I wait and I am scared of the problem becoming worse.

As a vulnerable senior with cardiac issues and advanced C.O.P.D any prolonged wait is deleterious.

I've been in pain for the best part of a year - couldn't eat properly and got an abscess due to the process only being partial completed.

The delay is affecting me mentally and emotionally, and especially physically.

My condition cripples me so much I hide away.

The delay means I find it hard to walk.

The delay means I can walk even less now

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

Sore eyes as I have ingrowing eyelashes scratching my lenses and cannot afford to pay for private removal.

I now have to walk with a stick as the pain in my hip is so bad.

I waited 10 months to see a cardiologist after being referred. Specialist said I needed a heart scan which I am still waiting for 8 months after.

I'm in permanent agony.

I've been housebound for 3 years

I now have full blown arthritis in my neck and shoulder. l need a shoulder replacement. It's so frustrating!

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

I've suffered with severe knee pain and related problems, this has now reached a point where I can barely walk more than round the house.

I still don't know what is wrong with me or what treatment I need.

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

I have a hearing issue and now I feel isolated while in the company of others.

I have been waiting 5 months for the initial consultation.

My teeth are disintegrating with gums growing up & over molars, exposing the next tooth along to decay. I can no longer chew hard food.

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.

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

I have waited two months for a referral to an allergy unit, then told it would be another 10-12 months to get an appointment.

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

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