A SINGLE mother has accused health bosses of "dragging their heels" over the decision to grant her an NHS-funded breast reduction.
A reviewing panel from the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group met on Wednesday (July 2) to consider the case of Kim Mills, of Trenchard Crescent, north Springfield, who says her 38KK breasts are destroying her life.
Yet the group failed to reach a decision and deferred the case to be reviewed on Wednesday, July 23, by the Mid Essex CCG Exceptional Cases Panel.
"I think they're dragging their heels really, I think they're scared to make the decision," said the 32-year-old office worker.
"My understanding of an appeal is you get a yes or no answer, that's the whole reason it goes to an appeal, so to me they're scared of it being a wrong decision and that if they said yes, it would open up a whole can of worms.
"They had the opportunity to defer it at the first meeting (in June). That's my life they are dragging on, they're not taking into consideration that I'm a person and that I'm suffering every day."
Miss Mills, who was diagnosed with arthritis in May, is grateful however she will be able to attend the panel meeting on July 23.
The mother-of-two will have five minutes to argue her case at Mid Essex CCG's headquarters in Springfield, which sits below the Essex Chronicle offices.
Miss Mill, who says she struggles to bathe her four-year-old daughter and even walk due to the weight of her chest, is expected to hear if her case was successful a week after the meeting.
In a letter to Miss Mills this week the Essex Commissioning Support Unit write: "Unfortunately the Group was unable to make a definitive conclusion, and it was therefore felt appropriate that your application be heard at the Mid Essex CCG Exceptional Cases Panel.
"This meeting is scheduled for 23 July 2014 and will enable a wider audience to hear your case."
