Preston window cleaner who had operation postponed 3 times says striking NHS staff 'not to blame'

A window cleaner who has had an operation postponed for the third time says striking NHS workers are “overworked”, “underpaid” and not to blame.

Thomas Atkinson, 62, from Preston was due to have keyhole surgery on his oesophagus on August 7 but said he was told his doctor was “on a serious case” and the operation was postponed for the third time.

Mr Atkinson said he thought the reason behind the cancellations was “mostly” due to “understaffing”, adding that there are “not enough people” to get around to him.

It comes as junior doctors in England started their fifth round of industrial action on Friday, which is due to last four days.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged NHS waiting lists in England have increased, but he opted to blame industrial action for the situation while speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari.

Mr Atkinson said the strikes were not to blame for his cancelled operations, and said the reasons for the delays are “different every time”.

He added that he supports striking workers in the NHS, saying: “They wouldn’t do it for no reason.

“I think they’re obviously overworked and underpaid like most people in this country.

“I wouldn’t hold that against them, no way I wouldn’t.”

Mr Atkinson has not been given a new date for his surgery, saying he has been waiting for more than a year for a fixed date.

He said: “Three times I’ve been booked, I’ve had three pre-ops, and each time they’ve cancelled.”

Mr Atkinson explained the bottom of his oesophagus has been “going into spasm” and it is difficult for food to reach his stomach.

“I can swallow, but it doesn’t go into my stomach,” he said.

“I vomit every day.

“As soon as I have something to drink, I vomit, as soon as I have something to eat, I vomit.”

Mr Atkinson said his operation had previously been delayed after his doctor found a shadow on his lung and suspected it may have been cancer, which turned out to be a false alarm.

He said the doctor told him his oesophagus has gone “slack and floppy” and the shadow over his lung could have been food which has collected there.

“It’s undetermined,” Mr Atkinson said.

“There’s no specific diagnosis.

“It’s been ongoing ever since, just getting passed from pillar to post all the time.”