Outpatients

Went to the hospital today to Outpatients. About the blogs from GPs complaining about referring patients to a consultant and finding that they were seen not by the consultant, nor even a "junior" doctor, but by a nurse; I have been fortunate to have been seen by the consultant on each of 3 visits. He has run his clinics to time, and always takes the time to explain things to you, so that the decision taken is a joint one.

I went today not entirely sure what decision to take, as the probability of success (by-pass of small leg arteries) is 50%. I asked if that probability was for one leg or for two - it is for one leg. Having studied probability I knew that that meant that the probability of success for two legs would then be only 25%.

Accordingly we decided to do nothing in the meantime (especially as I have pretty good pain control on amitriptyline), although I have to be careful of cuts or ulcers.

He said he would be very happy to see me again quickly if circumstances were to change.