I’ve been struggling with shoulder pain for two months; I’m still waiting for a scan with the NHS.

I told the GP I can’t cope with the pain, it’s unbearable, she told me to double up on my Tramadol. In desperation I went to a private physiotherapist. It cost £45, which I had to borrow.

My friend was in so much pain with an abscess and her dentist was on holiday so she called her GP for antibiotics, he couldn’t help as it was a dentistry issue, she asked the pharmacist and rang 111, but no-one could help. She phoned the dentist surgery again to ask if anyone else could help? The only option was to pay £98 for a private prescription. She’s on benefits.

My dad has an infection under his toenail, but the NHS podiatry have stopped treating anyone unless they are diabetic. He has to go private, £25 a session.

This all happened in the same week and are all due to cuts.

What happens if you don’t have the money to pay private or don’t have the luxury to borrow it.

It is yet again the poorest and lowest paid that will suffer either by being in physical pain or getting into debt, which we know can lead to homelessness. When we borrow money, it needs paying back. We start robbing Peter to pay Paul and there starts the downward spiral.

I think it’s barbaric what is happening with the NHS, the government is forcing us into private health care and our precious NHS will disappear. Leaving those that can’t pay to suffer or even die.

We’re heading into Dickensian times.