“If this is cancer I could be dead in six weeks…”
December 11th, 2007 by Frank
Green Ink (who did the illustration above) sent me a link to a blog which scared the hell out of me, Avoiding Life. The woman who writes the blog has been waiting since October 24 for an appointment in Mullingar to diagnose a problem which involves a lump and a bleeding breast.
We all know our Health Care System is fucked, and lately there was the horrible story of women who had been given the all clear for breast cancer being called back for retesting in Portlaoise. The state of our health care system is all brought home in a more personal way when you read about an individual’s experience of it though…
I drive out to Mullingar to be told it’s at least a four to six week wait. I tell her there is blood coming out of my breast. I tell her that if this is cancer I could be dead in six weeks. She tells me I can be a private patient and it could be as little as three weeks. Fuck. So there you go. Three weeks before I can find out if I’m dying. I love Ireland. I really do.
Read the full post on Avoiding Life…
I robbed some links from Bock the Robber to send trackbacks to people who might be interested in drawing attention to this woman’s blog – the links are all to posts covering the Portlaoise scandal, all worth a look.
Also Damien might link to it and maybe Tom will as well…
Entries (RSS)
December 11th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Thanks for the links.
The Irish Health Service (HSE) seems to get worse every day.
People with money are taking up public beds…the poor have to die while waiting.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/private-clients-taking-up-beds-in-public-hospitals-1243999.html
A&Es still ‘unfit for purpose’
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/aes-still-unfit-for-purpose-1243998.html
Concern about patient safety in all of the maternity hospitals in Dublin.http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/more-than-8000-babies-born-at-coombe-last-year-1244224.html
December 11th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Thanks for the mention Frank!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
It’s unbelievable. I want to move to Cuba.
Avoiding Life, what can I say except I hope by some miracle things begin to move faster for you.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:27 am
I know it’s nothing compared with cancer, but any dealings I’ve had recently with the health services were only positive. I broke my toe there a while back and had to go to the Mercy A+E unit. I thought I’d be there all night but no, I was dealt with promptly and courteously by professionals. The follow up visits were also very prompt and professional. I can get to see a GP and dentist when I need to and they too provide a great service. Again, a broken toe isn’t much but I think it’s all too easy to rubbish the whole system without recognising the good that these people are doing. Again, my sister had her first baby recently up in CUH and she couldn’t praise the staff and facilities enough. Frank, after a few days in Cuba you’ll want to come back home. Internet access is censored and prohibitively expensive. Let’s not fall into the trap of running Ireland down. There’s a lot to be improved, but remember we have it pretty good here.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:25 am
And speaking of running Ireland and things Irish down, I’ve just watched Alexander there on TG4. I thought it was a good, solid, action-packed historical drama and an entertaining film. Critics -professional and armchair- found the fact that the actor playing Alexander-the greatest warrior king that ever lived-Colin Farrell, spoke with an Irish accent hilarious and subsequently slated the film. Why? What’s so odd about Alexander and his cohorts speaking with an Irish accent? It’s as valid as any other accent. When will people realise that?
December 13th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Jesus I’m glad you got your toe seen to there Martin. Your story stands out like a beacon of hope to the rest of us.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Yes, Green Ink, thank you for your good wishes, you see it’s not all bad in this world of ours and it is great to have all my little piggies back in alignment. Still wouldn’t play footsie with Mary Harney though;).