THE

Health Service on the Gold Coast often takes a battering, so I feel compelled to recount my experience.

I had a doctor’s appointment at Bundall Medical Centre for 8.15am and saw the doctor at 8.20am.

I then went to the nursing station in the same building to have a stitch removed from my head.

Then I had to attend another station in same building to have some swabs taken to check for whooping cough.

My next task was to ring Pindara Hospital to make an appointment for a chest X-ray.

I was told that all I needed to do was turn up with my healthcare card. As I live nearby I went to the hospital straight away, miraculously parked right outside, and entered the Radiology Department.

I checked in, sat down and three minutes later was ushered in for my X-ray.

It took five minutes maximum and suddenly I found myself getting into my car. I looked at my watch and it was 09.15.

I realise I was very lucky but all of those four situations had taken a total of 60 minutes.

Back in the 1950s in the UK, whenever I went to the dentist for an extraction I was asked would you prefer gas or cocaine?

If that were the situation nowadays can you imagine how many toothless people would be wandering about on the Gold Coast?

FRANK TEWKESBURY, SOUTHPORT