Waiting years for a cataract operation

One cannot deny that the government has done many things to benefit the populace over the last 20 years or so. Still, some priorities have been shelved.

I just checked with Mater Dei Hospital about a member of my family who is on the waiting list for a cataract operation. She lost the sight of one eye and soon she will lose the other. But according to the waiting list, she will have to wait for at least four more years because specialists are still operating on patients from the 2003 list.

What is the government waiting for to do something about this and other waiting lists? Surely one can make some arrangements with private hospitals?

One can understand that specialists can only handle a limited number of operations, even though the politicians promised that the waiting list problem would be solved. It seems that in some areas, more problems have been created such as fewer beds and the service is sometimes unsatisfactory.

Why does one have to go to Mater Dei for some elementary information? Shouldn't this be given over the phone especially to the sick, elderly and disabled? Considering we're living in the computer era, when even a receptionist can in a split second find the relevant information on the computer, why should a bed-ridden person be forced to Mater Dei just to make sure that his file is not lost and that he is still in the queue?

On the other hand, private operations cost money and the government may argue that it cannot afford the expense. Well, if one takes a look at what the government spends on many unimportant projects, one can save millions to make good for such health needs. The question of compensating those ministers who were rejected by the people is a case in point.

Statistics show that about 30,000 people didn't vote. Why? Surely, they must all be disappointed about one thing or another.

I'm not saying that had the MLP been elected, these problems would have been solved in a jiffy, but if the government wants to earn the trust of those thousands who did not vote in the last election, then it has to do something soon and send for all those who have been waiting for years for an operation. Otherwise, the thousands who mistrusted the government are going to increase.