Health service and waiting lists

Sir, – Is it reasonable for anyone to have to wait 21 months for surgery in our hospitals in this day and age?

In 2013 I was placed on the waiting list for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, with an expected waiting time of nine months.

After waiting 18 months, I was advised in February 2015 that my surgery was needed immediately and urgently as my spinal cord was further compromised and if I fell, I ran the risk of quadriplegia or paraplegia! The operation was scheduled for March 3rd. As of this week, the operation has been cancelled three times due to a lack of beds and the emergency department crisis. The next scheduled date is June 2nd, subject to a bed being available. Judging by the recent numbers on trollies at Beaumont and around the country, I doubt this will happen. My life is on hold; I’m scared to walk around, in case I fall over or someone pushes into me. I am in the hands of a system that has failed and continues to fail the very people it is there to help and support. When is the Minister going to finally address this desperate situation? – Yours, etc,

MARK BOWYER,

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Dublin 2.