"Waiting List/Pain control"

I’m writing to raise serious concerns about my family member’s ongoing experience with pain management, and how the system is failing him physically and mentally. I hope this story will be listened to and acted upon urgently, as it highlights a situation that could—and should—have been prevented.

In November last year, my family member received a guided ultrasound injection (pain relief) after being seen by a consultant. The treatment worked—but only for around 3 months. When the pain returned, we contacted our GP, who agreed to refer him again. However, the radiology department rejected the referral, stating he needed to be seen again by the consultant first.

Eventually, an appointment was scheduled in May of this year. The consultant agreed to another injection, but said it would not be administered until November 2025—six months after the appointment—because he was being listed under a routine pathway.

Meanwhile, my family member continues to live in unrelenting physical pain, and now his mental health is suffering too. He is exhausted, frustrated, and losing hope. This is not just a physical health issue—it is now seriously affecting his emotional wellbeing, causing significant distress, anxiety, and low mood. No one should be left in this condition, waiting for months for a treatment that has already proven effective.

According to the NHS Constitution, patients have a right to begin consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral. In this case, the May-to-November timeline exceeds that standard. The British Pain Society and NHS guidelines stress the importance of early intervention in chronic pain conditions. Delays like this can actually worsen the long-term prognosis.

I am asking for this case to be urgently reviewed, and the referral for injection to be upgraded from “routine” to “urgent”. 

We have followed every step in good faith—from the GP to the consultant to waiting again—and still, the system has failed him. We need someone to step in and advocate for this patient now, not in another six months.

I hope this story is seen not just as a complaint, but as a call for compassion, common sense, and clinical urgency. Please help.