A DEVOTED husband braved freezing temperatures this week, to make a one-man protest against the health authorities.

Ivan Blacka and his homemade placard caused a stir outside the Firdale Medical Centre in Northwich on Monday, when staff called the police to his lone vigil.

The 53-year-old, of Navigation Road, is furious about the way his wife has been “let down” by NHS staff.

Mr Blacka told the Chronicle his wife, who is deaf, first went to the Firdale Road surgery three years ago with back problems, but her health has got worse.

She has also suffered with swollen legs, an ulcer in her throat and now the early onset of dementia.

“Her health has really deteriorated,” said Mr Blacka. “She struggles to get around and she sleeps a lot. She can hardly walk and this has been going on for three years.

“It isn’t a cold or a runny nose – she’s seriously ill. I’m sick and tired of being fobbed off. They just kept giving her painkillers and sending her away.”

Mr Blacka says an appointment with a specialist to get to the root of the problem has now been hastily arranged for next week.

“I think my protest has woken the authorities up,” he said. “I’ve never had such good service before.”

And during his protests on Monday and Tuesday morning, Mr Blacka claims to have received “a lot of support and thumbs-up” from passers-by.

Two police officers responded to the centre’s call but had no concerns over Mr Blacka exercising his legal right to a peaceful protest.

Firdale Medical Centre and the Healthcare Commission both said they could not comment on individual cases.