NI man ‘in chronic pain’ appeals for your help to secure emergency knee replacement surgery - ‘I have been on the NHS waiting list for 3 years’ - father-of-three hopes to help others in same situation

A NI man living in chronic pain has launched a GoFundMe appeal for help in paying for a knee replacement operation.

The appeal - launched yesterday by Patrick Walsh from Ballymoney - is for £7,000 to cover the cost of the operation.

Mr Walsh, from Co Antrim, said he has been on the NHS waiting list for three years already - but now his pain is “unbearable”.

In the appeal, Mr Walsh says: “My name is Patrick Walsh, from Ballymoney and I am raising £7,000 to cover the upfront cost of my knee replacement.

“I have been on the NHS waiting list for 3 years for a complete knee replacement.

“Due to Covid the replacement surgery has been delayed again, with no date available as knee surgeries are still not up and running.

“The chronic pain has now increased to the point that it has become unbearable and very difficult with a young family of 3”.

Mr Walsh said his circumstances have made his decide “to get the surgery done abroad in the EU and avail of the NHS refund when I return”.

He added: “This means I need to pay the cost of the surgery up-front, before the NHS will refund when I return.

“The cost of surgery abroad is estimated at £7,000.

“I am raising the money to enable me to make the upfront payment, get the surgery, get back to a decent life and be able to work again and look after my family.

“Once the cost has been refunded by the NHS I aim to use the money to help others in a similar circumstance.

“There are so many people suffering right now and the waiting list is getting longer”.

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