The people of Cornwall should be given the best medical treatment because of need. I went into the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro with a badly infected hip joint. I was operated on one Saturday by the duty orthopaedic surgeon, who explained that what he proposed would not cure the problem but it would buy me some time. He went on to say that to cure it a more thorough procedure was required but that as he was only the duty orthopaedic surgeon that weekend it would be for the surgeon who was assigned to me to decide. I was in hospital 7/8 days and never met the man although I knew his name was Mr Sexton. Towards the end of my stay the Senior House officer informed me that the " hip team " had met and decided that because of my age (64) and because I had some heart trouble they would not operate. I can't help being 64 and my heart causes me no problems and is well managed by my GP. I was shocked at their decision and discharged myself. I had to go to a hospital 100 miles away to get the correct treatment and now I am fit and well. If my fate was decided by a committee of faceless men who never met me or discussed my problem, then I feel the people of Cornwall deserve better mwdical care and at the least humane treatment.l