My lost appendix - and what it taught me about the NHS ; CRUNCH TIME Rushed in for surgery, Vince Cable spots some worrying hospital shortfalls (but loves the food)

Summary

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Last weekend, when the heart was being ripped out of Gordon Brown's Government by angry voters, I was having bits of my insides cut out by surgeons. Fortunately, my bits were less essential - merely an appendix. And the voters seemed angrier than the appendix.

The unplanned, emergency hospital visit to St Thomas's, London, did, however, do me a valuable service - providing first-hand experience of what the NHS now calls 'the patient journey' (though much of it was actually second-hand, via my family, as I spent a fair proportion of my time unconscious). Overall, I came away very impressed and reassured. I was released in good shape 36 hours after surgery under general anaesthetic.

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Extract

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My lost appendix - and what it taught me about the NHS ; CRUNCH TIME Rushed in for surgery, Vince Cable spots some worrying hospital shortfalls (but loves the food)

I had benefited from recent advances in diagnostics - the acute appendicitis was picked up on a CT scan - and keyhole surgery techniques. The consultants and hospital doctors were highly professional. Nursing care was meticulous and friendly. Staff repeatedly cleaned their hands with MRSA disinfectant. I even enjoyed good h...

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