Hoping someone can offer some advice on getting an umbilical hernia treated. DH has had one for a while and visited the docs a couple of times. It pops out multiple times a day, is painful and he finds it increasingly difficult to work as he has a physical job. But our GP refuse to refer him as they say an op will be refused unless he has been to A&E on multiple occasions. We were looking at paying privately but it will take all our savings (and then some) and quite honestly feel that this is exactly what the NHS should be there for! He was thinking of just going to A&E one day with the pain to see if this finds a different route for referral. It feels such a horrid waste of A&E's time as it isn't an emergency but feel stuck to know what else to do. Any advice welcome.