Thoughts of a carer

  Viv’s medical conditions have meant that she’s become something of a regular at our local Endoscopy Unit - a modern building, round the back of the hospital proper, seemingly located where it will be difficult for patients to find it, and for them to be picked up afterwards when they’re feeling groggy from the effects of sedation. I’ve been seen there once, a few years ago, for a much simpler condition than Viv's, and I found the experience somewhat less than inspiring - I was, initially, to be ‘done’ by a junior, under the supervision of a consultant, but the junior seemingly mistook my windpipe for my food pipe, causing me to become quite uncomfortable, at which point the experienced hand took over.  Viv’s experiences at the Endoscopy Unit have most definitely not been what one might expect from an ‘envy of the world’ health service. Her first visit was a waste of time, for they needed equipment that was not available to them; her most recent encounter was an unmitigated disast