Dad forced to go private after NHS 'budget' delay pays £8,000 for same surgeon

A dad claims NHS delays left him unable to get surgery on his back for at least five months - and he was forced to pay over £8,000 to go private with the SAME surgeon so he could "keep" his job.

- by Mike Hill

David Umpleby, 40, has been signed off work since November 2025 due to chronic back pain caused by two herniated discs.

Medics recommended he undergo surgery to repair the issues that leave him in "agony" and struggling to walk - but he was told the operation would not be available before April due to budget pressures.

The health and safety manager says that with his employer's sick pay due to run out by April, he was forced to borrow £8,217 to have the procedure at a private clinic on Thursday.

The surgery is due to be done by the same surgeon who would have done the operation on the NHS.

David, from Fleetwood, said: "I feel so let down. You pay your taxes, the NHS have said 'you need this operation' and literally because of money, I can't get it done.