A CHALLENGE to the Government over health service waiting lists has been made by West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett following the plight of a Germansweek woman.
Speaking at the House of Commons this week, Mr Burnett said it was a disgrace that one of his constituents had to wait 140 weeks to see a specialist.
'These delays are caused by inadequate funding for the health service, he said. 'It is utterly unacceptable and a national disgrace.'
Mr Burnett said the woman went to see her GP after suffering frequent bouts of fainting and giddiness and her doctor referred her to a specialist.
A letter which followed from the Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare Trust said the approximate waiting time to see a neurology specialist would be 140 weeks.
The MP, who addressed his concerns to Health Minister Alan Milburn during a three-hour debate on the health service, said: 'Everyone in the house was totally amazed when I told them about this delay.
'This lady came to see me at one of my surgeries in Holsworthy — she was absolutely distraught. To wait nearly three years to see a consultant is an absolute disgrace.'
He said that for the first two years since coming to power the Government had stuck to the Conservative's spending assessment for the health service and as a result there had been no increase on health spending.
'The demand for healthcare is rising but the Government is not meeting the demand,' he said. 'It is going from bad to worse.
'This is not the only constituent who has come to me — I get many, many complaints about these sort of delays.'
Mr Burnett said it was no fault of the medical profession. 'The doctors and nurses are doing all they can but the health service has got to be properly funded.
'This lady was anxious for me to ensure she could get to see somebody quicker and I shall do all I can. I am in constant contact with the health minister over this issue.'