I had a operation early this year.

I've always been terrified of the idea of being in hospital & the fact that I needed an operation to make sure there weren't any cells left after a surgeon removed a cancerous growth was less scary than being in hospital!

Being in hospital wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be tho the hospital system in my state is stuffed & beds are closed & staff overworked & I decided while I was there that I'd have the operation another specialist was recommending.

Some folks have such bad times in hospital that they decide never to go near a hospital again!

And even better I had the operation in the public system & it didn't cost me a cent, beyond a taxi fare to the hospital & snacks from the cafe when I could walk. Extra food is needed cos the budget for feeding public patients is very low (a thin slice of roast + 2 soup spoons of veggies instead of my normal family-sized serving bowl of veggies each night is not proper food!)

yah to the nurses & staff of Ryde Hospital & the Australian free public health service (under-resourced as it may currently be)

sandra