A Kingsdown woman is a step closer to having a long-awaited knee operation thanks to the East Kent Mercury and MP Charlie Elphicke.

Last week we reported that Maureen (Mo) Chandler’s resurfacing operation has been delayed by experts in Stanmore Hospital, Middlesex, because she had an open wound for more than a year from a hernia operation – which her specialist at the QEQM in Margate would not order to be re-stitched.

Four days after the Mercury chased up the complaint with East Kent Hospitals Trust, Mrs Chandler was taken into theatre for her wound to be re-stitched.

Her husband Ken, who contacted the Mercury and the town’s MP in desperation, said: “This has now turned into a success story.”

“None of this would have happened without the help of the East Kent Mercury and Charlie Elphicke” - Ken Chandler

He added: “None of this would have happened without the help of the East Kent Mercury and Charlie Elphicke.”

Dissatisfied with the service he has received from the NHS at the QEQM, Mr Chandler was inspired to create his own website for others who have had bad health service experiences, www.patientcarers.org and although it praises the NHS, it says sometimes an unlucky few get bad service.

He said: “I am trying to get a few celebrities on the site and have emailed David Beckham’s agent.”

Glen Adams, branch manager at Sainsbury’s in Deal has agreed in principal to let him leave his leaflets at the store in West Street.

Mr Chandler hopes getting more numbers to visit the site will enable them to form a group to lobby for better health care.

Before the Mercury came out last week, Mrs Chandler had been admitted to hospital in severe pain. They discovered her knee had been dislocated where the resurfacing operation had been delayed. The dislocation was corrected in a procedure last week.

Mr Chandler added: “All of the staff were great.”