"Continually failed due to NHS waiting times"

My son has been left down by the NHS for every aspect of his health issues. 

First of all, he had grade 4 tonsils and had sleep apnoea and this was not an emergency, instead given antibiotics numerous times despite the size of his enlarged tonsils. The NHS’s failure to recognise the importance of this on his health, and education and overall wellbeing left me no choice but to fork out thousands of pounds to go private. 

Second of all, he was referred to neurological development for sensory due to concerns with his food. Yes we all know as it’s been across numerous headlines however, he did not receive the support he needed in terms of his dietary issues, his speech is slow amongst other behaviours. Health visitors were no where to be seen, in fact I received an assessment letter in November of 2024 and was advised someone would make contact within 2 weeks, I had to chase this up after 5 months. Again, I had to pay for a private autism assessment to fight for the support that my son needs to enable him to be supported going to school. 

The last and final straw is his eyesight. I noticed a squint in his left eye and took him to the opticians, regularly until I raised sufficient concern that he was referred to Wishaw General Eye Clinic with his first appointment in April of 2023. Following on from this I have raised concern at every check up to say I felt this was getting worse.

At his appointment in October 2023 I was advised he would be added to the waiting list for surgery, I was even given the correcting a squint surgery leaflet for further information. Fast forward to April 2025, another check up. Again expressed my concern that it was much worse. I queried why no other treatments had been tried whilst waiting for surgery and was told, for this kind of squint only surgery will rectify this. It was also raised that he may have developed vision issues now.

I queried how much longer surgery would be and was advised there is now a consultant in post so things should start moving. That is no consolation given my son’s eyes have continued to deteriorate and my concerns have not been listened to. I came home and contacted NHS referral management helpline to query how long surgery would be, they advised my son was on the waiting list to see a Dr and put me through to Hairmyres Hospital. I was then passed to the eye clinic secretary who advised me that my son is actually not on the waiting list for surgery, instead he is only on the waiting list for a consultant appointment. Only then would he decide if my son needed surgery. However, she proceeded to tell me that this consultant is the only one in NHS Lanarkshire and is actually on a phased return. I asked the question if my son is not on the list for surgery like I was advised almost 2 years ago then is she telling me I am going to wait another number of years following an appointment with consultant, to which she replied yes. 

For every single aspect of my son’s health care, he has been let down and  those who should be protecting him to support his health needs. As per the NHS website, it states that it is important to rectify a squint as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the vision and in my sons case, the NHS have not followed their own advice. 

NHS need to recognise what I believe is their negligence, this is young boy who has stopped breathing in his sleep, not been able to eat (when eating is already an issue due to his sensory impairment) and is now having problems with his vision. The disruption this has had on him and how this is going to continue disrupt is education is unthinkable. 

This needs addressed and action need to be taken.