A atient's tale: David CurtainAfter putting off getting professional treatment for a sore toe for two months, I finally sought help from my local GP last December. As quick as a flash, he told me I had an in-growing toenail.
Presenting me with a letter addressed to a well-known Dublin surgeon, he advised I should ring his office to make an appointment to have a section of the toenail removed. Thankfully, this is not a serious complaint and, while there is some pain, I would have a cheek to moan. Indeed my hopes of sympathy from my children were in vain as statements about "major surgery" delivered with a "Labrador look" were met with scoffs.
My efforts to contact the surgeon and his office proved fruitless in December and January. So it was suggested that I go to the local Meridian Medical Centre in Roselawn Shopping Centre, Dublin, as this centre has a team that carries out minor surgery.
I built up the courage to visit the centre and, within 10 minutes, I was being examined by Dr John Connelly - a Limerick doctor with a Cork accent. He confirmed the nail had to come off. When I asked when he could fit me in, I genuinely thought I would have to wait months.
"How are you fixed on Wednesday next? I can do it at 9 a.m. and it will take no more than an hour," he said, as he handed me an A4 page with the answers to all the questions I wanted to ask.
The procedure ran according to plan and by 10 a.m. I was getting a lift into work. Within 10 days of my first visit to the Meridian Medical Centre, Dr Connelly was satisfied that the job was done and no more dressings were required.
In recent months the Department of Health and the Minister have been promoting the concept of having minor surgical procedures carried out at local level to take the pressure off the hospitals. At this stage in my life - slapping the face of 50 - I assumed such radical change would take years to come into force.
But it is here and those in need of minor surgery can have it done quickly, in their own locality and for a tenth of the costs associated with surgery in a hospital. The centres have teams of doctors offering a range of medical services and also have associates who are in attendance for specialised treatment on particular days every week.
If more GPs opted to refer their patients to these types of centre for minor surgery, we would see a more efficient service for all patients and an increase in capacity at theatres in hospitals throughout the State.