[Stuart]

My sister had major back surgery in the mid 90s. She had suffered back pain since her teens, and her GP had continually fobbed her off with (at first) painkillers, then visits to the Chiropractor, then an osteopath (at our expense IIRC). No attempt was made at any time to investigate what was wrong.

Until one day when my mother saw that my sister was barely able to walk and took her to our local A&E. They x-rayed her and found a tumour at the base of her spine. After several tests, and an agonising wait, we were told that although the tumour was not malignant, it would need to be removed urgently as it was likely to damage her lungs.

Within 30 days she had an MRI and had been admitted to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

The tumour was successfully removed within a couple of weeks after admission, but she was in hospital for four months recovering.

According to her consultant, the final cost to the NHS would be in the low millions. He also said had the tumour been caught early enough (IE had the GP been a little less scared to refer her), the operation required (had one been required as he thought there was a good chance she would have responded well to other forms of therapy) would not have been nearly as complicated, or traumatic and a lot less costly to the NHS.

I don't regret that they did the op (if they hadn't, I wouldn't have a sister), but I do regret that the GP didn't attempt to investigate the problem.