"It's the awful system that seems to be at fault here"

After seeing my "best" GP early December last year, she said I had a Kidney Stone, so booked me in for an "urgent scan". This took until late January 2015 to happen; some 6-7 weeks. Scanner Assistant said "The Dr can see a stone, but my whip you up to a ward, so please wait. " An hour later she said the doctor was too busy, so to go home and wait. My surgery then called a few days later and asked me to come in for an "urgent blood test"; this "urgent" matter took another two weeks. Then I was asked to see another GP about two weeks later. Amazingly she seemed less concerned about the stone than my blood pressure being "slightly up"; I had rushed to get there early morning! I asked about the stone, she said "Oh, does it still hurt? " When I affirmed that it had not disappeared, she said "Shall we send you to see a Kidney Doctor? " I was gob-smacked, as Cilla would say!

A week later a letter arrived from the NHS saying I should book on-line. This I did. Another week or so passed and another letter arrived saying that they "should contact me" within 18 weeks.... that's Five Months! Here I sit today, in late March in absolute agony, can't bend, walk or work for pain, I'm on my own, have no help, so everything has gone to pot housework and work wise.

I shall phone my GP tomorrow but expect to get fobbed off with another long wait.

The staff at the NHS are not to blame, they are doing a marvellous job and must be quite overworked. It is the awful "system" which some overpaid fool/s have put into place that seem to be at fault here. If one has a Kidney Stone and it is causing pain, then patients should be booked straight into the Renal unit/s for treatment without all this faffing around the bush nonsense!