A DISABLED woman is living in constant pain because a hospital staff shortage has prevented her getting the treatment she needs.

Mavis Reeve, 66, has been registered disabled since 1985 with severe osteoarthritis and spondylitis, an inflammation of the spine.

Her GP has recommended the only thing she can do beyond regular medication is to go and see a pain management consultant at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

But Mavis was told she was 323rd on the list. After more than three months, she is still waiting to have a course of pain-killing injections.

Today a local GP, who asked not to be named, said the staff shortage was causing considerable concern among his colleagues in the area.

He said he had one patient who was so frustrated with his appointment taking too long to come round as the waiting list grew from three to six months, he went to India for an epidural injection to alleviate his back pain.

Mavis's husband Bob, 77, of Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, said they felt let down.

Problems at the pain management clinic stem from the departure of consultant Dr Chad Taylor three months ago. East Lancashire Hospitals boss John Thomas today admitted there was no sign of the post being filled and a review was underway to try and tackle waiting times..

Bob said: "Too much money is being spent on administration costs with the single site and board readjustments, rather than things such as this which really matter.

"Mavis is in constant pain. Even rolling over in bed at night wakes her up in pain."

Mavis has been given a stop-gap cortisone injection but her GP will not give her a pain-killing jab in her spine because it is a job for a specialist.

Mavis said: "It's so frustrating - I've not been able to work for 20 years and during the last two years it's really got worse. At times, it's unbearable but the cortisone injection has made things better.

"We've tried all sorts of treatments and none of them work, so this is my only hope really."

Chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals Trust John Thomas said: "The Trust recognises that there are issues with the pain management service at Blackburn.

"Following the departure of Dr Taylor, the trust has advertised for a replacement consultant. However, we are not aware of any potential candidates at the moment.

"A review of the service is ongoing, to look at ways that will enable us to meet patients' demands and we are involving GP representatives in these discussions.

"In the interim, a consultant is undertaking additional sessions to help alleviate waiting time."

The local GP said the staff shortage was causing considerable concern among his colleagues in the area.

He said: "The service they are providing at the moment means the patients are really suffering. There's basically not a proper pain management clinic anymore.

"Even when Dr Taylor was running the clinic it was not ideal because he was doing so practically single handed.

"The clinic has always been run by an anaethetist.

"But because there is a shortage of those, they tend to have less time to spend on pain management."

Meanwhile, Mr Reeve has contacted his councillor, Jim Blackburn, who has pledged to take up his concerns.