I was surprised to read about Gemma Newell's lengthy wait for a tonsillectomy ('Gemma's 11-year wait for operation', November 17).

This could have been my story because the same thing happened to me - 40 years ago. I too suffered from multiple bouts of tonsillitis as a child and eventually had my tonsils removed at almost 18 years old, years after being told by doctors I would grow out of it. I should have thought the system would have evolved a little more since 1963.

Catherine Suter,

(York ex pat), Majestic Way,

Bullhead City, Arizona, USA.

Updated: 08:19 Saturday, November 22, 2003