A man was left with a hernia the size of a football after his operation was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Winston Baldwin, who is a farmer, says he is "just surviving now" and is struggling to even walk or go to the toilet.
The 72-year-old developed the hernia after a bowel operation in 2019 and was due for surgery in February, 2020, StokeonTrentLive report.
But the procedure, which was due to take place at Crewe's Leighton Hospital was delayed – and then the Covid pandemic struck.
Instead Winston, who lives in Oakhanger, near Alsager, was given a corset to support his back.
He said: “When I walk a yard from the phone to the table I’m out of breath – it’s just been getting worse.
“I developed a small hernia in 2019 but had to wait six months for treatment because I’d just had an operation. I was then sent to Northwich and back to Leighton in 2020. And then lockdown hit.
"The hernia has continued to grow and grow. They’ve given me a corset and I have constant back pain.
“I can’t go to the bog and having a poo is scary.
“I’m just surviving now and it’s not good at all. I want to work on my farm, I just want my life back. I’d go anywhere for treatment from Madrid to Lagos.
"I have been told an operation could be life-threatening – but this pain is life-threatening too."
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust runs Leighton Hospital.
A spokesman said: “We are unable to comment in detail about individual patients due to confidentiality reasons but would like to emphasise that we take any issues raised regarding a patient’s care very seriously.
“We are currently looking into this matter and will continue to liaise with Mr Baldwin directly about his ongoing care and treatment.
"In the meantime, we would like to apologise for the delays experienced during what we appreciate has been a worrying time.”
The spokesman added: “Throughout the pandemic we have continued to provide urgent and cancer treatment, but high levels of Covid-19 activity unfortunately resulted in delays for routine planned care, which we apologise for.
"Now that the number of coronavirus cases has reduced, our staff are working hard to restore services and safely treat patients as quickly as possible according to clinical need.”
