A woman who was waiting in hospital for her operation when her procedure was cancelled, resulting in her enduring painful sleepless nights, says she feels as if she is being ignored. 

Jean Buniak, of New Wanstead, has for four years suffered from a prolapse which makes it gives her severe stomach pains and leads to her struggling to get more than two hours sleep at night.

On February 25 this year, she was all set for delorme’s procedure at Whipps Cross Hospital but she was told while in a hospital bed that her condition was not severe enough to warrant an operation.

Since then the 91-year-old Wanstead resident has received four letters, on March 31, May 7, May 22 and June 3, all delaying a follow-up appointment at the Leytonstone hospital, run by Barts Health trust, which is in special measures for failings in care.

The next appointment has been set for June 16 but Mrs Buniak is worried she will just receive another letter with a further delay.

She said: “I was shocked and disappointed when I was turned down for the operation at the last minute because I thought it was going to be all sorted then.

“I am in pain from my stomach down to my bowel, sometimes I manage to pass something and the pain goes away but I thought it could be fixed with an operation.

“The hospital keeps delaying the appointment saying they are short of staff but I feel like I am being ignored.

“They must think I am just an old woman making a fuss.”

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Jean Buniak has lived in Wanstead since 1977.

Mrs Buniak, a former library assistant and mother of five, said she has reached the end of her tether and was unable to stand the pain any longer.

“I take paracetamol but I still really struggle to sleep at night as I am in great pain, it seems to get much worse when I am lying down,” she said.

“I have tried all medications, laxatives and diet tips but none of them work.

“There must be something the hospital can do for me to help but I am getting so frustrated and feel helpless every time the appointment is delayed.”

A Barts Health spokeswoman said an investigation had been launched into the concerns raised by Mrs Buniak.

She said: “We are very concerned to learn of the issues raised by Mrs Buniak regarding her treatment and care.

"We are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this matter.

"The findings will be presented to Mrs Buniak and her family once we have completed our investigation.”