Holt woman told to wait ten weeks longer for treatment

Lesley Cook, from Holt, has been fighting to get care for the pain since it first appeared in 2023.

She received a letter last week from the pain management clinic which said she was being "listed for treatment".

She has now been told that the waiting time could be 10 weeks.

Ms Cook said: "There are no guarantees, but possibly this is likely. At the moment I am only crossing my fingers."

Her back pain saw her first referred to Cromer Hospital and x-rays and sessions with a physio.

Lesley Cook, 81, has been waiting nearly three years for treatment for back pain. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Next came a visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she was told she was "too old" for surgery but that steroid injections might help.

That was followed by costly private consultations, being added to the NHS waiting list, and finally a consultation with the pain management clinic.

But she has still not received the injections which she believes would significantly improve her life.

Ms Cook received a call last week from a woman at the pain management clinic.

She said: "Her attitude was much nicer and understanding of my back problem. She has said that she has learned of my story and said she fully understands the pain that I have, and how long I have waited.

"So she says they are now thinking that it will be more like 10 and a half weeks waiting instead of the 38 weeks."

Ms Cook lives in Holt. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Previously, Chris Cobb, NNUH chief operating officer, has said: "We are very sorry to anyone waiting longer than expected for investigations and treatment and know we have more to do.

"We continually review our waiting lists and we are prioritising cancer, the most urgent and longest-waiting patients."