West End Letters: Lord Darzi | health service | Peter Lyons | UCH | James Wigg | GP

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:17 April 2009

Does our health service need fixing?

• THE following might throw some light on the debate about the need for the treatment centres that Lord Darzi (pictured)is so keen to set up all around the capital.
Three weeks ago I felt it was about time to do something about a bump on my little finger.
It was around noon when I rang my health centre, James Wigg.
The receptionist asked if I could come round to be seen at 6.30pm the same day.
The GP said the bump was a cyst that could be removed and asked if I would like to be referred to University College Hospital or the Royal Free.
I chose the former.
Four days later I received a letter from UCH offering me an appointment in a week’s time to see a consultant at 9.20am.
I turned up at 9.15am and was seen at 9.22am.
The consultant sent me downstairs for an X-ray.
I was back in her consulting room before 10am. We looked at the results, already on the hospital’s network, and agreed that a request for a procedure for a removal should be initiated.
Four days later I picked up a phone message to ring UCH day surgery appointments to arrange a time to have the cyst removed. A date a fortnight hence was offered and accepted.
I cannot see how the above could sensibly be bettered, yet the government seems intent on spending millions to set up a number of treatment centres to duplicate what is already there and working very well. Why?
As a taxpayer I feel entitled to an answer.
As a voter I know what my response will be.
Peter Lyons
address supplied

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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