Neck break man waits weeks for op

Sean Paul Doran has broken his neck in two places

A County Down man who broke his neck after falling from scaffolding 10 days ago is still waiting for an operation.

Sean Paul Doran, 34, from Ardglass, was told he needed surgery to insert metal rods in his neck. He is being cared for at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

His sister Charlene said his family was "going through agony" due to the delay.

The Royal Hospitals Trust said Mr Doran required highly specialised surgery, complicated by an existing condition. It is now scheduled for next Friday.

However, the hospital also said patients with life-threatening injuries would be given priority.

Mr Doran, who broke his neck in two places, is unable to move without risk of further injury.

Mr Doran is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast

He told the BBC that he is not guaranteed to have his operation next Friday.

His sister has praised the nursing staff but said she felt let down by the NHS.

She said they had been given "a series of excuses" over the delays in treatment.

"The first one was that it would need two surgeons and they only had one surgeon to perform it," said Charlene Doran from Portaferry.

Mr Doran already has arthritis in his spine which doctors have said complicates the surgery.

The hospital said the operation had to be carried out by a surgeon with the appropriate skills.