Left Flank, Left Waiting You know you’re in trouble when your infection has more NHS mileage than your car. Four months of festering on the left flank, finally a referral… only to be told the waiting list is full. So now I’m on the waiting list for the waiting list. That’s right — a purgatory…

It started, as these things often do, with the promise of progress. A urology appointment, finally. I walked in hopeful. The consultant opened with, “I believe you spoke to my colleague Mr…” — only I hadn’t. I’d spoken to no one. The CT scan on her screen? A year old. To the day. Honestly, if…