"Unable to get an NHS referral for an MRI with NHS Lothian"

I feel really let down by NHS Lothian as a result of my recent experience.  It started with severe shoulder pain, which turned into excruciating arm and shoulder pain with complete loss of feeling in half of my left hand.  Over the course of a few weeks I saw four GPs, 2 out of hours GPs and A&E doctors.

I was told that the pain was caused by a nerve issue and was prescribed morphine and gabapentin.  I was taking a very high dose of gabapentin and a medium dose of morphine, with no effect.  I had lost proper use of my left hand, was in unbearable pain, could not sleep and was signed off work.  On the advice of an out of hours GP, I asked one of the GPs at my doctors' surgery to refer me for an MRI scan to check whether I had a prolapsed disc in my neck.  The GP said that they could not refer me as it was not yet serious enough and I needed to wait to see if it got better by itself.  They could give me no indication of how long this would take and I was signed off work for another extended period.

A week later, in even more pain, I asked for a referral from a different GP and was told that they would be unable to refer me until I had complete loss of function in my left arm.  Despite being on a high dose of painkillers with no effect, not sleeping and being  unable to work, I was told by a third GP that they were unable to refer me as it was still not serious enough.  Each of the GPs did not say this explicitly, but reading between the lines it seemed as if they were being told not to refer by NHS Lothian.

On the advice of friends who are doctors, I investigated options for a private MRI scan and asked the GP to refer me to the Spire Murrayfield Hospital.  During my private appointment, the consultant immediately identified the need to send me for an MRI scan, which showed a massively prolapsed disc pressing on a nerve and spinal cord, which required surgery to be fixed (anterior cervical decompression and fusion).

This is the first time that I have felt let down by the NHS.  I do not blame the GPs as it seemed that they were under pressure to limit referrals to neurosurgery from the health board.  Thankfully I could cover the cost of the private consultation and MRI scan with savings, however I am well aware that the cost of private treatment without having insurance cover (which I do not have either) would be beyond many people's means.  I had always thought that if I ever needed surgery, that the NHS waiting list might be long, but that I would always be able to get a referral if I needed to.  This sadly has turned out not to be the case.

I feel incredibly disappointed in NHS Lothian.