Waiting

Because this surgery is being done on the NHS, I don't have the option of picking or choosing who I'd like to do the op. It was the same for GRS, but I was more than happy to go under Michael Royle, who I had known about since the early 80's.

Going back to the BA. I was initially seen by Xxx Xxxxxxx 6 months ago and was under the impression that he would be doing my op, but when I went to the pre clinic last Thursday, I was told he wouldn't be doing it and instead Mr Essler would more than likely be my surgeon.
I was also told that I may or may not be going under the knife on Tuesday 2nd.
It all depended if they could get a hold of Dr Essler on the Friday to arrange an appointment today at short notice. They'd keep me in the loop, they'd be in touch.
I had never heard of this Mr Essler, so I was keen to get home and see if I could find anything out about him. All I could find was a dental surgeon from America!
I was getting annoyed. And confused.

Needless to say, it was me that had to phone them on Friday afternoon.

'No, no Morgan. We cant get a hold of him, but we'll be doing our best to get him on Monday morning.'

I spent the weekend hoping I'd get a phone call early Monday, but again, it was me that called them at lunchtime today.

'No, Morgan. Mr Essler went into theatre this morning and we havent been able to speak to him yet. We'll do our very best to speak to him this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning'

'Look, I have a letter here telling me to attend surgery on Tuesday morning at 11.30am. Obviously that isn't going to happen. Can you give me a rough idea of when you will be booking me in for surgery? I'd just like to get things planned.'

'Well, we've provisionally booked you in w/c the 15th, so we hope to get you to meet Mr Essler and you can be measured and agree sizes and then we can order them in.'

'Order them in? I discussed all this with Xxx Xxxxxxx 6 months ago. I know what size I want to be.... And how long does it take for you to order them in?'

'Oh, so you know what size and youve spoken to Mr Stewart? Can I ask what size you want to be then?'

I told her specifically.

'Okay, well I'll have to speak to the both of them, but don't worry, we'll have you done by the end of the year.'

Now, I was pretty mad when I put the phone down. The end of the year? I'd went from thinking I'd be done within the week, to it being touch and go whether I'd be seen before the turn of the year.
If I was paying for this treatment I would have been pretty irate with her, but because it's NHS, well, you just put up with it don't you? I'm readay to flip.

It had also been bugging me that the surgeon she had told me was nowhere to be seen in the registered plastic surgeons working in the UK. I asked her at some point to spell the surgeons name for me as I'd never heard of him.

'E-L-S-N-E-R ....Elsner'

'Oh right, I was told it was Essler last week.'

It reminded me of a silly joke my mother told me years ago.

A man walks into a butchers shop and asks for a steak and kidley pie.
The butcher says 'You said kidley. Its kidney!'
And the man replies 'No, I didley!'

I did a search for this new name and it turns out the guy has a place in Harley Street, but is working as a locum at my local hospital. I'm quite happy at that, but I'm not happy at all this extra waiting. Nobody likes waiting. For anything.