A dad housebound and using a wheelchair has been told his wait for a hospital appointment has been delayed by a month due to the doctors' strikes.

Michael Howard, of Grecian Street, Maidstone, has been in constant pain due to a hip problem for seven months, first feeling an issue in October.

Michael, who has a nine-month old daughter, had his left hip resurfaced 12 years ago and at first thought it was flaring up again so some rest would fix the problem.

A resurface involves layering the joint with an alloy metal to prevent rubbing and decay of the bone.

The 65-year-old said: "I remember the day it started hurting as it was my son's birthday. I was walking around the building site making a survey.

"By the end of the day it hurt so much I struggled to get in my car and drive home.

"Since then the pain has gotten unmanageable and is getting worse each day."

Originally, nothing of concern was found by doctors in Maidstone Hospital's A&E – even after x-rays – and Michael was sent home with a prescription for painkillers.

He went back a week later when the medication had little effect and again nothing could be seen, so the security firm manager sort advice from private specialists.

When speaking to his GP he said he was a member of Benenden Hospital who had overseen his previous hip operation. After being referred to them, the cause of Michael's pain was found.

An x-ray found signs the bone around the hip joint was failing and could give way at any minute.

Michael has since been waiting for an appointment with his condition classed as urgent.

He did have an appointment booked for last Tuesday but on April 6 he was called to say due to the strikes by junior doctors the date has been moved back to May 24.

He said: "I'm at my wits' end and devastated I couldn't have my appointment.

"What's pushed me over the edge was when they phoned me to say due to the strikes they wouldn't be able to see me on the April 12 and will now push it back to May.

"I'm not frustrated by the people trying to help, just the whole process."

The pain has gotten so bad, the 65-year-old has resorted to working from home as he is unable to drive to work.

As well as being a security firm manager, Michael also runs his own driving school company but has had to halt instructing lessons. losing him more than £1,000 in income each month.

"I can't get in and out of the car," he explained.

"It means I'm losing around 40 hours of work each month but also some of my students have their tests coming up and they are now having to look for new instructors."

"I'm completely lost of what to do. I have a nine month old baby daughter and I can't help my wife with her.

Michael has recently received a wheelchair to help with getting around the house and is phoning the hospital everyday hoping for cancellations.

Last week strikes were affecting all services of the NHS and were expected to do so between Tuesday and Saturday.

In a statement NHS Kent and Medway said: "This is four days of strikes involving up to half of doctors in the NHS coming immediately after a four-day bank holiday weekend.

"The NHS is facing record demand and the long bank holiday weekend is usually one of the busiest times for the NHS with staff working incredibly hard to maintain services."

Chief medical officer, Kate Langford, said: “We are working closely with our partners to make sure patients can access the care they need, in a safe environment, during industrial action by junior doctors.

“We anticipate and are planning for the action to have significant impact on services provided across all areas of the NHS, including our hospitals, accident and emergency departments, primary care (GP practices) and mental health services.

“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is important patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward as normal, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.’’