"9 months waiting time for orthopaedics appointment"

My Dad was diagnosed as having arthritis in his hip last July. He were told that he had been referred to Orthopaedics outpatients clinic (at Lawson Memorial in Golspie). We have waited 9 months (9 months for emphasis) for his initial orthopaedic consultation to come through - which came through yesterday. Meantime he has been in increasing levels of pain with little pain relief. My Dad served as a GP in the NHS for his entire career and was dedicated, committed and relentless sin his pursuit of patient care - so it is truly disappointing that he has had such a terribly long and painful wait to be treated himself. Who knows how long he will have to wait for hip replacement surgery.