I've had a 2cm x 2cm hard lump on my neck just behind my ear and on my jawline for 2 months now. The GP got me in immediately to see the in-house ENT who asked for a 2nd opinion from another GP before giving me an urgent referral to see a specialist.

After a month of waiting for an appointment I got fed up and started making various calls today, eventually, I got through to the NHS department that books appointments to be told that while I am indeed on the urgent list my waiting time will be between 10 and 12 weeks! Surely this cannot be correct?

I then phoned the local private health care hospital to find if there was an option to pay for it privately and get it done quicker but they won't even give me a ballpark figure of how much a biopsy or any tests may cost, so I can't sign a blank cheque and start this process.

As if this situation we find ourselves in isn't stressful enough as it is, this is the kind of service we are given after paying taxes our whole lives. Rant over, that was much needed!