It's not fair that I have to suffer constant pain every day. I'm really annoyed with Nicola

Spine patient Harvey's heart-breaking plea to the departing First Minister

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy has begged Nicola Sturgeon to sort out the NHS and help to end his pain because he "can't take it anymore".

Little Harvey Martin suffers from an agonising curvature on his spine that requires immediate medical intervention.

But he has been told by his doctors he will have to wait months for treatment due to lengthy waiting lists - despite the fact his organs are being slowly crushed.

His case was raised with the First Minister at Holyrood this month. But he is still no further forward with an operation to end his pain, and so has issued a heart-breaking plea to the First Minister who will leave office on Monday.

In a direct message, Harvey said: "Hello, Nicola Sturgeon, I'm Harvey Martin. I've been on the waiting list from August for an operation on my spine. I can't take it any more.

"I'm in pain constantly, every day.

My mum and dad are worried sick about me. If there is anything you could do to help that would be very much appreciated.

Schoolboy Harvey suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition which causes growths on the nervous system. The growths have caused scoliosis on his spine and the curve is progressively getting worse.

He was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2020 and a year later his curve was measured at 39 degrees. But by August last year it had doubled in size to nearly 80 degrees.

After a recent growth spurt his mum believes it has increased again.

The curve has meant his fourth and fifth ribs are close to the spinal cord so a lot of the pain he is experiencing is coming from the back of his ribcage, where pressure is being applied to his internal organs.

The delays in his treatment were raised at First Minister's Questions almost three weeks ago but he is still no nearer getting his surgery.