"Why does one have to be wealthy to be able to..."

I recently was referred to a hearing specialist at the K & C: my first appointment was at Ashford and subsequently I was asked to attend a clinic and the K & C.

I was in no way surprised to be kept waiting for an hour, but I was very surprised to be informed that whilst my hearing was beyond the help of ordinary hearings aids or even a BAHA, I had to wait until I was stone deaf to qualify for a cochlear implant!!!!!!

I enquired about private funding and lo and behold!

Miraculously this would be fine, all I had to do was produce money to the tune of about £50,000 and then iI would be able to hear!!!

Meanwhile failing to come up with the necessary funds I was told that the Falls Clinic at the K & C would accept me (!) and that I should consider a house move to a bungalow and also purchase a Zimmer frame.

I only wanted to hear, not to move about festooned with equipment.

OH dear:

I knew that the NHS was collapsing. but my experiences have taught me to steer clear of the K & C - there were many semi-uniformed people bustling importanltly up and down the many corridors, carrying bits of paper - lots of staff but nobody seemed to DO anything.

Such a shame, such a total waste of my time, and that of the staff member who seemed happy that I should remortgage my house and sell anything valuable in order to be able to hear again.

Spot the anomaly !