NHS - Funny but a bit disconcerting

I just have to tell someone this story. So I went in to the doctor's about a month and a half ago. The doctor looked at my leg and basically I'll have to have a small surgery (in & out in the same day) So he put me on the waiting list surprisingly I got a letter about a week ago asking me to call and make an appointment. First off the letter was addressed to me as 'MR'. I'm a woman and actually have a very feminine first name. It was had written twice on the letter. I call NHS minor surgery waiting list and then clarified to the nurse that I was actually a woman and not a man. (We were both laughing as my name is pretty ridiculous to have Mr in front of it) She then said she would send me a appointment confirmation letter and some reading materials. When I opened the confirmation letter there was a pamphlet for toenail surgery. I'm having the operation on my leg. Again, I call back and get the same nurse I spoke to before. She said she was new and accidently put the toenail surgery pamphlets in all the confirmation letters she sent that day. She said I was the fourth phone call she received that morning from other people wondering if the NHS had them down for the correct operation.

And another sad thing is....all those toe nail surgeries are really a waste of money and time since the NHS insists on removing toe nails in theatre (operating room) under anethesia.  In America, they are done as an office procedure.  That's why there is a loooong waiting list in the NHS just to have a toe nail removed!!! 

Even if it was her first day she should still know the difference bwteen a leg and a toenail! 

And another sad thing is....all those toe nail surgeries are really a waste of money and time since the NHS insists on removing toe nails in theatre (operating room) under anesthesia.  In America, they are done as an office procedure.  That's why there is a loooong waiting list in the NHS just to have a toe nail removed!!! 

Oh my gosh, that is pretty scary, why go under anesthesia for a toe nail surgery. I guess they haven't moved forward this technology/surgical procedures? I wonder if the do the gall bladder operation the old fashioned way too? I recall a friend many years ago that had it done that way but in the 90's the actual surgery and stress on the patient was minimized big time.

why do they take off a toenail? 

I'm not sure, maybe if the nail is really infected or had been injured in some way. I'll take a look at the pamphlet when I get home - maybe I'll be enlightened.

And another sad thing is....all those toe nail surgeries are really a waste of money and time since the NHS insists on removing toe nails in theatre (operating room) under anethesia.  In America, they are done as an office procedure.  That's why there is a loooong waiting list in the NHS just to have a toe nail removed!!! 

I have a similar issue. I have to have a tooth removed, and I am allergic to novocaine, but I have to go to a hospital to get gas and air because they're not allowed to give it in a dentist's office.  So I have to be put on a hospital waiting list to get a tooth pulled.

why do they take off a toenail? 

My friend (here in the US) just had about half her toenail removed because it had become severely ingrown. She has had all kinds of problems with her feet (loads of surgeries), and that particular foot had been bound in bandages for a while so she didn't realize that the toe was ingrown so badly, especially since her whole foot was in pain anyway.

Some people do get really bad ingrown toenails though, and that can be a very good reason to remove it because it can cause the nail bed itself to become infected.

My son has had his big toenails removed multiple times for recurrent ingrowns. Nothing he was doing wrong. He just has funky toes. 

I have a similar issue. I have to have a tooth removed, and I am allergic to novocaine, but I have to go to a hospital to get gas and air because they're not allowed to give it in a dentist's office.  So I have to be put on a hospital waiting list to get a tooth pulled.

Can't they do it with an injection?

wait--there's no happy gas in the dentists' offices here?!?!

My friend (here in the US) just had about half her toenail removed because it had become severely ingrown. She has had all kinds of problems with her feet (loads of surgeries), and that particular foot had been bound in bandages for a while so she didn't realize that the toe was ingrown so badly, especially since her whole foot was in pain anyway.

Some people do get really bad ingrown toenails though, and that can be a very good reason to remove it because it can cause the nail bed itself to become infected.

I had half of my right "thumb" toenail removed a few years ago because it was getting ingrown.  I got a kick out of it (no pun intended).  It was done at a podiatrist office near where i was at school at the time (univ of maryland).  It was all done under local anaesthetic so I got to see the gruesomeness of what was going on (call it morbid curiousity).  That bad boy was going at least 2 cm into my toe.  I realised after that I'll just take care of ingrown nails myself with a guitar pick and pair of tweezers

I had half of my right "thumb" toenail removed a few years ago because it was getting ingrown.  I got a kick out of it (no pun intended).  It was done at a podiatrist office near where i was at school at the time (univ of maryland).  It was all done under local anaesthetic so I got to see the gruesomeness of what was going on (call it morbid curiousity).  That bad boy was going at least 2 cm into my toe.  I realised after that I'll just take care of ingrown nails myself with a guitar pick and pair of tweezers

I think I may just have thrown up a little.