"Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital."

My husband was scheduled for a biopsy {prostate}. He was asked to arrive by 11.00am promptly and had been fasting from 6.00am that morning. We arrived as scheduled and proceeded to be taken through to the appropriate area, where preparation was to take place for the surgery. I stayed for some time and eventually left as parking charges are outrageous.

I called at 1.00pm to see what had transpired between the time I had left and present time - Oh he's still with us but he should be going soon - was the response I received, so I left it at that. At 3.00pm I called again, thinking by now he would have been at least some way through the procedure. However, the response again was - Oh no, he's still with us but shouldn't be long now.

At this point, I was a little taken aback to say the least, but let it go. At 4.30 - 4.45pm I receive a call from my husband - Come and get me. Why? I replied. They've done it to me again, he said. Been there all day from 11.00am, no food or water since 6.00am, no answers. Just a nurse, come into the room/cubicle saying - Oh sorry they can't do you today! It had happened last year as well, from 7.00am, no food or water, until almost 5.00pm. Lights out, cleaner cleaning the floors. Whats happening? he inquired. Oh can't do you today, machine broke down around 2.00pm, was the answer. What? my husband replied - and you couldn't have sent a nurse to tell me earlier instead of my sitting here all day.

On this occasion he was scheduled for the biopsy again. Arrived at 6.45 for 7.00am. Went again through all the same old same old. At his most recent appointment, he was told by the doctor that this time he would be first on the list for the day. I called at 10.30am - Oh he's still with us but shouldn't be long, was the response. At this point I had the worst case of deja vu! Oh no I thought, here we go again. I called again at around 12.15pm, "Oh no he's still with us but should be going soon". At this point I knew something was up!Around 12.30 I receive a call, Was my husband, Come and get me. Why? I inquired, {knowing full well what had transpired}. I was supposed to be first on the list this time. Yes I know, that's what she said at your last appointment. They just told me she's doing her first patient now, then she's going to lunch then she'll be back later. Didn't tell him if he was next on the list or last. Didn't say how long this surgery was going to take, even an approximate time.

How long away she was from doing him, not a word. Enough is enough.