Not necessarily!!Originally Posted by RickyR
Two years ago, I had occasion to undergo *carotid arterial surgery ... in order to prevent a full-blown stroke, as a result of suffering a couple of Transient Ishaemic Attacks [better known as TIAs - or mini-strokes]. *This operation is well-known to be an extremely delicate procedure ... itself giving rise to all sorts of risks, including the danger of CAUSING the very damage it is designed to lessen and/or myocardial infarction (heart attack) - even death ...
and is normally only performed by a "handful" of experienced surgeons in selected Scottish NHS hospitals.
My treatment was carried out at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. And, following 24 hours of close-monitoring in Intensive Care - during which I was wired-up to numerous tubes and other devices - I was back on my feet the next day, and discharged the day after. Three months later, I attended the Outpatient Clinic at Perth Royal Infirmary, was pronounced fully-fit by the Vascular Specialist who'd operated on me and told I didn't require any further check-ups, so long as I continued taking a nightly concoction of cholesterol-reducing medications in conjunction with aspirin each morning.
I suppose it could be argued that I was one of the 'lucky ones' (and it cannot be denied that I HAD been!). But I very much doubt if the standard of care I received would've been any better had I been treated privately!
