Tale of two patients: one seen in minutes, the other goes home to bed
We had to bring him to Bantry general hospital where, within a matter of minutes, he was admitted and put under the care of the nurses and doctors there.
Our sincere thanks to them for their civility, efficiency and professionalism.
The speed with which he was dealt was in stark contrast to my own experience a few weeks ago, when I took a very nasty fall and suspected that I had broken some ribs.
I arrived at the South Infirmary in Cork city at 10.40 that night and saw the long line of sick and injured people waiting to be examined.
The receptionist informed me that I would have to wait “at least six or seven hours” before anyone could see me. Naturally I went home to bed and took some painkillers. The importance of local general hospitals around the country in places such as Bantry, Mallow and elsewhere cannot be overestimated.
They play a critical role in delivering services to many people across huge areas of rural Ireland, and their future must be preserved and guaranteed at all costs.
Cllr John Kelleher
City Hall
Cork
