There are two hospitals here in Chester. One is the Countess of Chester NHS Health Park—which is a bit of a misnomer really, because one of the few things you can't actually do here is park! The other one is private—called the Grosvenor Nuffield Hospital. This is, however, often more fondly referred to as the “Golden Nugget” by those who frequent it (frequently) and deliver a service unparalleled in the NHS. Now don't get me wrong, I really am bitter and twisted, but those of us who work in genitourinary medicine have been singularly unsuccessful in creating waiting lists of sufficient longevity to promote a healthy private practice.

Of course, half the problem is us and not promoting our specialty the way others do. For example, one of the commonest conditions we …