'I feel forgotten after 100 weeks on urgent surgery list'

Tracey Meechan's pain from an ovarian cyst is so severe she can't bend over - she relies on her children to help her put her shoes and socks on.

Every day the 41-year-old wakes up and wonders if any new symptoms are going to appear.

She has been on an "urgent" NHS waiting list for surgery for 100 weeks and now feels "forgotten".

As the latest NHS Scotland waiting times data is due to be published, Mrs Meechan told BBC Scotland News that the wait for treatment has affected every part of her life.

She said: "I can't live my life to the fullest. I can't do the activities I want to do with my kids. I can't do the job that I love.

"I was signed off work at the end of January as a home carer because of the pain and the physicality of my job - I can't do it.

"My mental health has declined. This has been years and the symptoms have worsened. It's impacted my life, my personal life and my family."

Before the pandemic it was rare for anybody to face a wait of a whole year to start NHS treatment, but that is not the case now.

Waiting always has consequences – more frequent visits to the GP to manage pain, struggles to work or stay healthy in other aspects of life.

The government says tackling waits is a priority and has set a target to create 150,000 additional appointments this year.

Read full story

Source: BBC News, 27 May 2025