I'm 70 years old. And worked until I was 65 to help people with a sight impairment to lead a better life. I need a knee replacement but the local Clinical Care Group which holds the NHS purse strings has 3 times refused to pay for surgery, leaving me no option but to find £10000 to pay to have it done privately. I am just recovering from lung cancer, I've never smoked, and have had nearly half of one lung removed. Now ive been told i have Trachea Malacia, one of the symtoms is a cough caused by the weakness in the tracheal wall, which in turn has caused a hernia of the chest muscles.

The CCG wont pay because my BMI is just over their threshold, weight loss is difficult because of the medication I take each day. Any help towards the cost will be really appreciated.