"my accident"

What know we of harbours,

Who sail not on the sea.

I’m not sure who that is attributed to, but the same could be said about hospitals.

Black Friday for me fell on April 17th. It was early afternoon and the morning had been a long and tiring one, I was within a few hundred yards of home looking forward to being out of my sticky clothing and under a refreshing shower, followed by a welcoming cup of tea. One of the bags I was carrying broke loose and was heading for the road, my reaction rather than conscious decision was to grab for the bag, next moment I was lying in the roadway and in a great deal of pain, I knew instantly I had broken my leg, I cursed myself for being so stupid.

A Good Samaritan arrived and called for an ambulance and when it arrived two young industrial athletes went into action assessing my condition and firing questions at me ten to the dozen. Clearly I could not, as they wished me to do, turn onto my bum so laughing gas was administered and I was soon efficiently wheeled into the rear of the ambulance by these two professional girls.

My destination Kirkcaldy and the new hospital there once assessed at the reception I was transferred onto a bed in a waiting area. My first thoughts a four hour waiting time, still I was comfortable, warm and surrounded by professionals and given a button to press if I required assistance. Constantly over the next couple of hours I would be asked “Name, Address, DOB” clearly I was in some sort of queue and being attended to. A little under two hours later I was wheeled into ex-ray and my worst fears were realised, this was no cold compress and a couple of aspirins, I had three breaks in my lower leg, two on one bone, one on the other, however they were clean and no bones protruding from my legs, it could have been worse.

After a half cast was fitted to my lower leg I was taken to my well appointed room and a team of dedicated staff fussed over me throughout the remainder of the day and into the night, they could not have done more.

On saturday, I was introduced to the surgeon that would be doing the work on my leg, and since the swelling was minimal he would like to do his work that morning, rather than risk swelling than having to wait possibly weeks until the swelling subsided. I joked that this was Saturday and didn’t all the doctors and surgeons go off on a Friday afternoon to play golf and not return until Monday morning? That is what the politicians will tell you but people still have appendicitis, babies and accidents over the weekend and we are here for them.

With a pin inserted down the inside of my bone and a couple of plates inserted the leg was set in a cast up to my knee so no long weeks of immobility by Tuesday I was able to go home.

I am sure there are difficulties in the NHS but none of this will show on the surface, these people are professionals with a Capital P. so my question to is to certain MSPs, “Why would you wish to turn this enormously loved and well respected institution into a professional football team? ”