Blackburn veteran 'let down' by seven-year wait for op

4:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

Jack Bland Jack Bland

A SECOND World War veteran said he feels ‘incredibly let down’ by the NHS after waiting almost seven years for a back operation.

Jack Bland, 85, who lost the lower part of his right leg after being shot in Northern Italy at the end of the war, suffered a lower vertabrae injury in 2006 after falling over a step.

He was confined to a wheelchair for four months, and ever since has been asking for an operation on a painful small disc bulge at the lower level on his left side.

Mr Bland, of Charterhouse Place, Blackburn, said: “The bulge means I can’t walk very far and I can’t stand for any length of time, or else I start to feel dizzy. With already having my right leg amputated, it’s a double whammy.

“At first they just tried to give me painkillers, but MRI scans showed I needed an operation.

“I’ve been asking for this for six years and 10 months, and since my latest scan in June, the hospital has been trying to get a pre-operation meeting arranged.

“Now every time I get an appointment to go for the meeting, I get a phone call telling me it’s been cancelled and they never tell me why. I feel incredibly let down.

“The politicans are always saying the NHS is free, but it’s not, we all pay for it in taxes. I’ve served my country and paid taxes all my life, and I get nothing but my war pension.”

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, runs the Royal Preston Hospital, which is dealing with Mr Bland’s case.

Karen Partington, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We offer our sincere apologies to Mr Bland for delays in his care.

“We always aim to provide the highest standards of services and take seriously any concerns patients have about their experiences.

“We will contact Mr Bland directly to assure him that we are prioritising his treatment.”

Mr Bland has spoken to Blackburn MP Jack Straw about the problem. Mr Straw said: “I am really concerned about this and I am taking it up with the hospital.”

Comments(15)

mavrick says...
4:40pm Wed 31 Oct 12

why has he waited 7 years? he could complained a long time ago. It is not acceptable for a management suit to just spout the usual insincere dribble of wanting to offer the best possible care, The management of these trust's need to be accountable to the public. They are nothing more than political puppets. The NHS should be above all politics. since the coalition took over and demanded £20 billion in savings it was always going to destroy the fabric of the NHS. recent programmes have proved that the private sector are only concerned about profit. funded properly the NHS would do the same job much better and with a little more compassion. People would be happy to pay a bit more in tax to fund the NHS. If the government want their £20 billion they could try clamping down on these multinational companies that only pay peanuts in tax. so why don't they?

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tombhoy says...
5:08pm Wed 31 Oct 12

This is an absolute disgrace. The management of the trust must be held to account. At least now this story has been in the press, something will be done. My guess is that the operation will be carried out before the end of November 2012.

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lancashire-lad says...
5:26pm Wed 31 Oct 12

I can make a comment about this but not about some scroat who makes a mockery out of the justice system.

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lancashire-lad says...
5:26pm Wed 31 Oct 12

I can make a comment about this but not about some scroat who makes a mockery out of the justice system.

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2 for 5p says...
6:57pm Wed 31 Oct 12

Yes ok you have a point it's been a long wait . However what's with all the war and serving your country got to do with it, you can't go jumping the que just because you were in the army years ago.

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ste.g says...
6:58pm Wed 31 Oct 12

shameful

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Rumpole says...
7:41pm Wed 31 Oct 12

You need a math and history lesson, 2006 was when Mr. Bland should have been treated for his injuries, about the time when Labour were allegedly throwing billions into the NHS, the cuts were not being made when treatment was first needed so look into why a Labour run NHS didn't provide the treatment that he has earned a 1000 times over in his service to this country.

As a veteran of WW2, Mr. Blands treatment should have been a priority from day1, no waiting list, no excuses!

I do actually agree with you that these multinationals should be hammered for more tax but until people stand up in numbers and demand it like they did in Iceland it will never happen regardless of whichever government is in power.

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Mikeee47 says...
10:09pm Wed 31 Oct 12

I hope your proud of yourselves NHS / PCT. Next we'll be teaching in schools the 2nd WW didnt happen just like the holoucast didnt. WTF??? This guy fought for everything that is that England (used to) stand for. Typical of todays society Govt' and the rest.. let our senior citizens Rot, well let me tell you if it wasn't for people like this Veteran you would be speaking Nazi german. This guy should be priority YOUR A DISGRACE

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Black Car Guy. says...
10:56pm Wed 31 Oct 12

7 years? That all? He should wait longer. Now if he was a drunk or druggie or a leach on the social he would have been seen sooner.

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Major Tom says...
11:36pm Wed 31 Oct 12

Why didn't he go private?

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kenbro says...
1:11am Thu 1 Nov 12

Major Tom - perhaps he couldn't afford it ?

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2 for 5p says...
5:10am Thu 1 Nov 12

Mikeee47 wrote:
I hope your proud of yourselves NHS / PCT. Next we'll be teaching in schools the 2nd WW didnt happen just like the holoucast didnt. WTF??? This guy fought for everything that is that England (used to) stand for. Typical of todays society Govt' and the rest.. let our senior citizens Rot, well let me tell you if it wasn't for people like this Veteran you would be speaking Nazi german. This guy should be priority YOUR A DISGRACE
Couple of points
Since when has there been a language called Nazi Germany .
What is the connection between this man waiting for a operation and teaching ww2 in schools.
The last points do you really think that if someone was once in the army they should be made a priority as far. As waiting lists are concerned .

Thankfully the NHS doesnt work like that you wait the same as everyone else regardless of who you are.

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BIG BOSS says...
8:48am Thu 1 Nov 12

Sorry to hear you have been suffering, along with so many others, it is degraceful that a lot of people have to suffer, it just makes you wonder whom is being treated and where are the billions being spent.??? And Mr Bland is quite right the Nhs is not free and anyone that comes from abroad, should be made to pay, or recieve basic care,!!!,

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Mikeee47 says...
3:04pm Thu 1 Nov 12

2 for 5p wrote:
Mikeee47 wrote:
I hope your proud of yourselves NHS / PCT. Next we'll be teaching in schools the 2nd WW didnt happen just like the holoucast didnt. WTF??? This guy fought for everything that is that England (used to) stand for. Typical of todays society Govt' and the rest.. let our senior citizens Rot, well let me tell you if it wasn't for people like this Veteran you would be speaking Nazi german. This guy should be priority YOUR A DISGRACE
Couple of points
Since when has there been a language called Nazi Germany .
What is the connection between this man waiting for a operation and teaching ww2 in schools.
The last points do you really think that if someone was once in the army they should be made a priority as far. As waiting lists are concerned .

Thankfully the NHS doesnt work like that you wait the same as everyone else regardless of who you are.
maybe if you grew up in the war you would understand, but from your comment your far too young AND immature to be educated. and not worthy of my time or the poor guy who had to wait.

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2 for 5p says...
7:30pm Thu 1 Nov 12

Mikeee47 wrote:
2 for 5p wrote:
Mikeee47 wrote:
I hope your proud of yourselves NHS / PCT. Next we'll be teaching in schools the 2nd WW didnt happen just like the holoucast didnt. WTF??? This guy fought for everything that is that England (used to) stand for. Typical of todays society Govt' and the rest.. let our senior citizens Rot, well let me tell you if it wasn't for people like this Veteran you would be speaking Nazi german. This guy should be priority YOUR A DISGRACE
Couple of points
Since when has there been a language called Nazi Germany .
What is the connection between this man waiting for a operation and teaching ww2 in schools.
The last points do you really think that if someone was once in the army they should be made a priority as far. As waiting lists are concerned .

Thankfully the NHS doesnt work like that you wait the same as everyone else regardless of who you are.
maybe if you grew up in the war you would understand, but from your comment your far too young AND immature to be educated. and not worthy of my time or the poor guy who had to wait.
Oh yes sorry I might when I get a bit more educated I could go down to college and try to enrol in Nazi german lessons.

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