A pensioner who has become known as Rosehearty’s own Elephant Man is still waiting for doctors to help him.
Michael Cull had last spoken to specialists at NHS Grampian two months ago about the possibility of having his left leg – which has now enlarged to about two-stone in weight – surgically removed.
Since then, he has been left waiting by his phone for news.
From his home last night, the former Nasa scientist said that he deserved answers from health bosses about why it has taken so long to end his daily suffering.
The 66-year-old had been set for an operation to remove the excess flesh in Hull last year after meeting with doctors, but the option was pulled at the eleventh hour.
“I still don’t understand what went wrong there,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable and it’s a total mystery. No one I speak to can understand what’s going on – this is a nightmare.
“It’s not improving my health at all and my leg is still swelling. I really do think that amputation is the only answer to it.”
Following his disappointment with Hull’s surgeons, Mr Cull had researched having the operation done privately in India. He estimated that it would cost him about £12,000.
He said: “The situation is so crazy.
“You expect to hear back from them in a few weeks, but I just seem to be blanked all the time. This could have been done by done by now, but we’re another year down the line. I really feel I’m owed some sort of explanation.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said it could not comment on individual patients.
“In general, if patients are concerned about the care or timing of communications connected to that, we recommend they contact the team in charge of their care,” she added.
Mr Cull’s condition developed shortly after being involved in a car crash 11 years ago while living in London.
Attempts to stop the growth with stockings have so far failed.
