Farmer forced to live with football-sized hernia after op delayed due to Covid

A farmer’s triple hernia has swelled to the size of a football after his operation was delayed due to the pandemic.

Winston Baldwin, 72, was meant to go under the knife in February 2020, reports StokeonTrentLive.

But the procedure was delayed and then lockdown happened.

This means Mr Baldwin, who lives near Alsager, Cheshire, is still waiting for surgery – and living in constant pain.

NHS bosses have apologised for the treatment delay and said the matter is being looked at.

Mr Baldwin developed the hernia following a bowel operation in 2019.

He was scheduled to have surgery to fix the problem at Crewe’s Leighton Hospital early last year – but Covid struck.

Mr Baldwin was instead given a corset to support his back instead and has now described his agony over the last 15 months.

He said: “When I walk a yard from the phone to the table I’m out of breath – it’s just been getting worse.

“I developed a small hernia in 2019 but had to wait six months for treatment because I’d just had an operation.

“I was then sent to Northwich and back to Leighton in 2020. And then lockdown hit.

“The hernia has continued to grow and grow. They’ve given me a corset and I have constant back pain.

“I can’t go to the bog and having a poo is scary.

“I’m just surviving now and it’s not good at all. I want to work on my farm, I just want my life back.

“I’d go anywhere for treatment from Madrid to Lagos.

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