Health minister slams Norfolk man's 'unacceptable' wait

David Curry died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N) on October 1 last year after developing sepsis following an operation on the kidney stones. He was 77.

His death came after he opted to have a ureteroscopy privately, having grown tired of waiting for the operation to be scheduled on the NHS.

Norfolk's senior coroner, Jacqueline Lake (Image: Newsquest) Jacqueline Lake, Norfolk's senior coroner, wrote to the government with her concerns over Mr Curry's case last month.

In a report to prevent future deaths, Mrs Lake said she was concerned that a lack of available operating theatre space locally meant he had been left waiting five months for his surgery.

NHS guidelines say the operation should have been done within four weeks.

The delays also meant that a temporary stent was in use much longer than planned, which significantly increased his risk of post-operation complications like sepsis.

Karin Smyth, the government's minister for health (Image: UK Government) Now, in response to Mrs Lake's report, health minister Karin Smyth agreed that the wait he experienced was "unacceptable".

She said: "I would like to say how saddened I was to read the circumstances of Mr Curry's death and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

"I want to assure you that tackling waiting lists is a key part of our health mission and a top priority for this government, as we get the NHS back on its feet.

"It is unacceptable that some patients are waiting five months or more for elective treatment."

Ms Smyth added that the opening of the new orthopaedic centre at the N&N, which opened in July, would help to reduce waiting times in future.

She wrote: "While Mr Curry's surgery could not have taken place in this centre, the additional theatre capacity for orthopaedics will free up other theatres in the trust for surgery in other specialities."