Carer says her 'life is back' after operation wait

Jenefer Sully underwent the operation in August

A woman who waited 11 months for a crucial hip replacement has said her "life is back again" after the successful procedure.

Jenefer Sully, from Portsmouth, said she was forced to quit her job and live on benefits while waiting for the operation.

Ms Sully told the BBC she had been left "sat on my sofa or lying in bed because I can't move" and questioned why she had to wait so long.

Since undergoing the procedure in August, she has now returned to her job as a support worker in the care industry.

In England the NHS backlog currently stands at 7.6 million cases, with more than 40% having waited over 18 weeks. The target is for 92% to be seen within 18 weeks.

As part of today's Budget, the government has announced an extra £22.6bn will be invested in day-to-day spending on the NHS in England, as well as £3.1bn to budget for investment.

This funding comes after its pledge to increase the number of NHS hospital appointments and procedures in England by 40,000 per week.

Prior to her operation, Ms Sully was being cared for by her family

In July, prior to her procedure, Ms Sully said: "Every week, every month it's just getting worse.

"I'm normally like a happy-go-lucky, really positive, person, but it's really affecting me."

She said during her time off work, when she was claiming statutory sick pay and universal credit, she estimated the cumulative cost of benefits and medication was more than the £12,000 cost of an operation.

"There must be something we can do to reduce [NHS waiting times] down," she said.

"I physically could not move - if I'd have had it done when my doctors said I needed it urgently done, I would've been back at work a long time ago."

The BBC caught up with Ms Sully after she had her left hip replaced in August, when the 51-year-old said her "life is back again".

She has now gone back to work, and also completed a sponsored walk in aid of local care charities.

"I've got a smile on my face and I'm not scrunched in pain," she added.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said ahead of the Budget that it would help to "start fixing the foundation" of the NHS - but warned it "will take time to turn the situation around".