Consultants’ selflessness saved my life

FURTHER to correspondence between the deputy general manager of Cork University Hospital and consultants in Mallow Hospital, as detailed recently in the Irish Examiner (April 4), I, too, wish to state my dissatisfaction with the proposal to curtail surgery hours, albeit possibly on a temporary basis, at Mallow General Hospital.

My case was similar to that of Patrick Walsh, who needlessly and tragically died at Monaghan General Hospital, with the exception that I survived due to the professionalism and lack of selfishness of consultant surgeon Aonghus Twomey and his team along with consultant physician Cornelius Cronin and the staff at Mallow General Hospital.

I was admitted to Mallow Hospital on March 13, 2006, and was operated on on March 17 by Mr Twomey, who himself was detailed for leave on that and subsequent days. In spite of this, he carried out surgery on me for a very rare life-threatening blood disorder and continued to monitor my progress over the following days. I am deemed extremely lucky to be alive because if the surgical team had waited for a couple of hours before operating, my family would now be without a husband and father.

On March 15, 2006, prior to my operation, I was transported by ambulance from Mallow to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for a CAT scan. I arrived at CUH at 9.45am for a 10am appointment. It was about 4pm before I could undergo the scan because my files — which were brought by hand and had been faxed twice from Mallow — had been mislaid at CUH.

That day was possibly one of the worst in my life as I was treated with lack of respect and left to suffer and ignored by the HSE at CUH. Only for my wife contacting Mr Twomey, who in turn expedited my case with CUH, I would still be at CUH waiting for my files to be found. And that is without apportioning blame to the staff at CUH, who have to deal with too much of a workload.

What a difference it would have made to me that day if I could have been scanned in Mallow. Of course, a CAT scan is now available there, but lack of resources prohibits the recruitment of an operator.

Thankfully, I have now recovered from my disorder but am still constantly monitored by both Mr Cronin and Mr Twomey. Only for their care, professionalism and lack of self-interest, I would now be a picture on a mortuary card.

For that reason, I support the stance of these two consultants. Enough money is being wasted by the HSE and other state organisations and not enough is being spent for the needs of patients.

Ger Brennan

Mulberry

Mitchelstown

Co Cork