November 2023: Engage Britain has now merged with Demos. You can still find all our work from 2019-2023 here, but to get in touch or find out about our new ventures, go to https://demos.co.uk/

Mary
"I had an MRI in August last year that found a cyst. I realised it's an obstruction and that there will be a major issue. So I was placed as a priority at that time. When they officially told me in October, it took them from August to October to tell me that I had this thing that could potentially kill me. And I was told before the lockdown at the end of October they'll get me in for surgery, which didn't happen. So they're like, 'Oh, January.' So we'll start the fourth of January. Fine. And then also because of the pandemic, 'Oh, February.' Then April... And today when I spoke to them again, they couldn't even give me a timeline. Which, you know, means your whole life stops."