Letter to the Editor: If you have reason to complain, you should certainly Flag it, but…

Dear sir - Recently, I had my first visit to Navan hospital for a minor operation. Not bad for a 72-year-old. Now, I could be complaining about the length of time it took to get me in front of a surgeon, but it was a minor operation (for them) and there’s no doubt, there are more deserving cases of this man’s time than me, so I’m not inclined.

On the Moynalty road heading into Kells, I noticed our Tricolour on several poles, and the intended significance started to filter up, but my focus was on the forthcoming operation, so it didn’t break the surface of my mind.

On the way down from the new road to the hospital, more flags, but more about that later, as Con Houlihan used to say in the Evening Press all that long time ago.

I went into the hospital, introduced myself and was taken into care. I lost count of the number of nationalities that looked after me, each to their own specialities. But I noticed they all had one thing in common – you could feel the embrace of their warmth and empathy. Without exception, each person who worked there, looked to see what they could do to make me comfortable, either physically, or by putting my mind at rest. Oh, it wasn’t just me, they took the same level of care to every one of their patients.

So, I write to record my most sincere and humble thanks to the entire staff of the Orthopaedic Unit and to say that the high reputation they enjoy is entirely deserved.

The flags. The intention of the design is to show that we are stronger together. We are. We are lucky that some from another land have chosen to make a home for themselves here in Ireland because they work hard to make our health service the best that it can be. You can learn a skill, but empathy comes from the heart. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Yours,

Arthur Tormay,

Moynalty.