A LOSTOCK Gralam man is still waiting for an operation at Leighton Hospital despite being told that without it he may not be able to walk.

Frank Johnson, of Langford Road, has been waiting more than a year to have several bones in his neck replaced with ones from his hip.

But in November last year, the operation was cancelled because Leighton Hospital did not have the right equipment and Mr Johnson is still waiting to find out when it will take place.

Doctors told Mr Johnson 13 months ago that if he did not have the operation within two years, he would not be able to walk.

He said: "I should have had the operation on November 15 last year but when I rang to check with the hospital at the beginning of November I was told it had been cancelled.

"Leighton Hospital doesn't have the special drill to carry out the operation as it costs around £18,000."

Mr Johnson added: "I'm always in pain and I can't walk very far without needing to rest.

"If I try walk to collect my newspaper - which is a half-mile round trip - I come home in absolute agony."

Mr Johnson's condition has been caused by arthritis and he is in so much pain that he was forced to give up work as a bricklayer several years ago.

Simon Yates, chief executive of Mid Cheshire NHS Hospitals Trust, said: "I cannot comment on individual cases.

"Leighton Hospital has a number of patients who are awaiting spinal surgery but we need the appropriate skills as well as the appropriate equipment to operate.

"If we cannot afford the equipment we need to decide whether we can offer the service ourselves or whether it should be provided elsewhere.

"If there is an issue of urgency for individual patients, their GPs will speak to the surgeons or treatment will be organised at another hospital."