Hey Down,
We Aussies hate our health system too. It would cost approx $30,000 AUD to go private for this.
As far as we have been able to work out, with the NHS system we will be crippled forever.

(((((everyone))))) Thanks for your good wishes.

we may be offline for some time if we can persuade anyone to do the op, we could be in hospital 3 weeks, but they probably won't do it. They don't care about you if you don't have money.