'Delays Were Excruciatingly Painful': Expat In UK Shares Frustrating NHS Ordeal, Flies To India For Surgery

Last Updated:March 25, 2025, 21:49 IST

Mangal described how he suffered a severe hand injury when a glass shattered, causing a deep cut that damaged a nerve and left his tendon 90% torn

News18

Aryan Mangal, an Indian marketing professional, has shared his frustrating experience with the United Kingdom’s Health Service (NHS) in a social media post, detailing the “excruciatingly painful" delays he faced while seeking treatment for a serious hand injury. He ultimately had to fly back to India to undergo surgery.

Mangal shared his ordeal on his Instagram, which has sparked considerable attention, with many people offering their own opinions on the NHS and the healthcare systems in both the UK and India.

In his post, which included a video explaining the situation, Mangal described how he suffered a severe hand injury when a glass shattered, causing a deep cut that damaged a nerve and left his tendon 90% torn, making it impossible for him to raise his finger.

Explaining his ordeal, he revealed how he was rushed to a pharmacy where the staff assessed the wound as serious and advised him to go to the hospital. “They helped me wrap the wound and gave me energy tablets to prevent me from fainting," Mangal wrote.

Mangal then went to a hospital, where he had to wait for three hours before seeing a doctor. “After an X-ray and consultation, the doctor calmed me down and informed me that I would need a hand plastic surgeon to fix the damage. This happened on a Saturday," he noted.

He further revealed that when he visited the hospital the next day, the doctor numbed his hand with several injections and checked for glass particles before dressing the wound. However, he was told that the surgery would be scheduled for Wednesday.

On top of the delays, Mangal’s wound began bleeding again, and he developed a fever, further complicating his situation. To his disappointment, just the night before his surgery was set to take place, Mangal received a voice note from the NHS informing him that his surgery had been postponed by 4–5 days.

Frustrated by the situation and the unbearable pain, he decided to fly to India for the surgery, where doctors promptly repaired his tendon and sutured the wound.

“Soon, I will get my stitches removed and begin physiotherapy," he added.

Concluding his post, Mangal acknowledged, “Unfortunately, my experience with the NHS wasn’t great. While the doctors were kind and professional, the delays were excruciatingly painful"

United Kingdom (UK)

News world 'Delays Were Excruciatingly Painful': Expat In UK Shares Frustrating NHS Ordeal, Flies To India For Surgery