"delays in repeat referral to Musculoskeletal Services in Leeds"

I have been suffering from brochanteric bursitis for many years. The only way to make my life bearable is by periodic steroid injections into the affected area.

My consultant advised me a few years ago that, as this is a permanent problem, my GP should send a fax to his secretary (he gave me the number for this), so preventing long waits and unnecessary suffering. This information was passed to my GP and it worked satisfactorily until November 2012. The fax was sent and nothing further was heard.

The GP re-sent the request at the beginning of December and I myself rung the Musculoskeletal services in mid-December. They were unhelpful and told me that all bookings up to Christmas had been made, there were many patients waiting, etc. I explained that my condition was now adversely affecting my back and my overall mobility ( as I am still working), that I was taking increased amounts of painkillers and could they please try to get me into any location as soon as possible in the new year.

I saw my GP last week who had been informed that an appointment had been made for 7 February. I only just received this information and it relates to an 'initial appointment.' Obviously somebody has not looked on my file. The GP advised me that he would again try to get an earlier appointment.

The people I spoke to were extremely unhelpful. If I could see my consultant privately, I would do so but he does not have a private practice. Could somebody somewhere please stop administration overruling medical decisions on when patients are seen?