“Circa 1995 my wife needed spinal surgery; my GP referred her to The Spinal Foundation and informed her that this would come off the Medical Practice’s Budget, so my wife used our Private Medical Insurance. We were then informed by our private health scheme that this was not covered – we informed Mr Knight of this and he told us not to worry he would take my wife on at The Foundation – a VERY NOBLE thing to do.
Her operation was a great success due to the dramatic changes in what my wife could now do. Things that she never dreamed of doing prior to the surgery. The difference it made to our lives could not be put into words! I have seen the treatment my wife received from Mr Knight and The Spinal Foundation, both as a private patient and an NHS patient and the two cannot be distinguished. She has been treated impeccably on both occasions. I dread to think what our lives, and especially my wife’s, would have been like without the care and attention given by Mr Knight and The Spinal Foundation. Our GP TOLD us he could no longer refer patients to Mr Knight – it was now only other Consultants who could refer. To now think, that this is not available to other suffering people is unbelievable, as I have seen at first-hand what the NHS has to offer.
A certain ‘Consultant’ that at no point carried out any examination, that after an MRI scan showing degenerative changes and a disc prolapse, said “I am of the opinion that surgery is not an option. If the back pain becomes too troublesome, a referral to a pain specialist might be an idea.” We were further exasperated and appalled when he said that he did not agree with Mr Knight’s “ways”. I feel strongly that something must be done to reverse this policy, and only hope that in writing this letter, it will go in some way to ensuring that is done.”
