How did it come to this
Friend had key-hole surgery on his knee (waited well over a year), cartilage growing on bone, lump behind knee and was told to ring GP for stitches to be removed in two weeks. Rang the next day - after hanging on the telephone for a considerable time (no turning up at the reception desk to make appointments) - to be told earliest they could give was 9th February. Operation was done on the 19th January so three weeks after. Decided to ring the original hospital who said it wasn't ideal, would probably be OK but to be on the safe side, go to A&E. (I've Googled it and apparently if left for too long, skin can grow around them which makes it harder to remove, scaring and maybe a risk of infection). Obviously not a life-and-death situation but how long does it take to take a few stitches out, and yet more work for the overburdened A & E.
