Hospital’s gift to Victor: Call back on Christmas Day 2021

Victor Browne finally got his hospital appointment.

The only drawback is that it’s for Christmas Day ... 2021.

The 44-year-old received the letter on Wednesday asking him to attend a consultant at Limerick’s St John’s Hospital. However, the married father told the Today FM Ray Darcy show he will be well into his 50s before the appointment.

“I showed it to my son and he thought it was the funniest thing ever. Actually I have a son who is just one now and he will be making his First Holy Communion then. If I am still alive, I won’t be retired so I hope I can get a day off work that day to attend, but you never know.”

Victor said he was going to ring the hospital but would have to calm down first.

“It’s ridiculous. I think people need to wake up and look at things a little bit more closely.

“I mean for me it’s not a very serious matter but it is still serious enough. They have to think about people and of the impact it has on people’s lives, the stress of waiting.”

A spokesman for St John’s Hospital said the GP referral letter for Mr Browne was received on Monday and placed in a “suspense” file on the hospital’s computer system pending consultant review.

“Unfortunately this information, instead of the appropriate letter of acknowledgement, was issued to the patient on Tuesday, Jun 18. We will be apologising to the patient for this simple human error.

“St John’s wishes to reassure all patients that we currently meet the national target of no patient waiting longer than 12 months for an out-patient appointment.”