"Six day test"

Six days of tests to determine the cause of pain followed by a trip to St George's, Tooting, to dislodge a gallstone stuck somewhere inside.

For me a welcome relief from pain, for the NHS an expensive foray - ambulance, nurse, paramedic and driver.

You might think the procedure could be performed at Kingston.

Apparently not.

The cost just doesn't bear thinking about.

On to the care - in Astra ward a disparate group of individuals from all parts of the world comes together to form an humogeneous unit, which brings care, consideration, compassion and committment under the watchful eye of the Sister and colleagues.

Not for nothing is the Astra team abbreviated to the A team!.

Doctors and registrars were informative and helped to allay fears - the registrar's hastily drawn sketch of my insides will stay with me for future reference.