Dad 'slowly-dying' after '12 GPs' told him pain was 'bad back' slams NHS

18 November 2023 , 09:22

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Ron Carnall told his daughter he was dying

A “slowly-dying” dad has slammed the NHS after 12 GPs told him he had back problems - but the real reason was far worse.

Ron Carnall, 58, was told the symptoms he’d been suffering for years were due to degenerative discs in his back, but it wasn’t until a district nurse in Stoke-on-Trent treated his blistered-riddled legs that Ron was told he had diabetes.

Medical tests later revealed the dad-of-one had a blocked aorta and wouldn’t survive an operation or amputation.

Speaking to StokeonTrent Live, he said: “A few years back I had pain in my back that had been getting worse. I went to see a doctor at Weston Coyney Medical Practice, at Meir Primary Care Centre. I had a scan and it was discovered I had degenerative discs in my back causing severe pain. I had injections in my back to see if it would help the pain, which they didn't. Eventually I saw a consultant who said there was nothing else to do and to go home. That kicked me in the teeth.”

A nurse treating Ron's sores said he has diabetes (StokeonTrentLive)

He began noticing his legs would go numb from the waist down to his feet and he would suddenly fall to the floor. At the time, doctors put it down to Ron’s bad back, but the Staffordshire dad wasn’t convinced. He said: “I kept seeing different doctors. I have seen 12 different doctors. The only thing I didn't do was get on my hands and knees and beg. They kept on saying it was my back.”

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Ron said he decided to visit a district nurse after sores appeared on his legs earlier this year, who told him the real reason for his bad health. He would later find out an operation was off the cards. He said: “They have said my heart won't take any operation. I said 'So what you're saying is I'm slowly dying?'. They kept putting it down to my back. They wanted to take my legs above the knee but my heart won't take that either.

“In my opinion, this is all down to GP negligence. I'm in a lot of pain. You wouldn't have treated a dog like that. The pain is so bad I can't sleep. It's totally wrong.” Ron said he’s now waiting for a wheelchair to be delivered. He said: “I just have to keep going. I have always been a fighter. But I should have been diagnosed earlier. I could have had the operation - and now I feel as though I'm rotting away. I had to tell my daughter that her dad is dying. That was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.”

North Staffordshire GP Federation only took over the running of Weston Coyney Medical Practice in July 2021. A federation spokesman said: "We are unable to comment on anything prior to that date. Since taking over the surgery we have supported the patient with his health conditions."

Adrian Zorzut