Barkeep's Blog - Vollsanger: 21st April 2026

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

21st April 2026 - and a trip to the Medics

Thought for the day :"If anybody knows of any town crier jobs going, give us a bell."

Dry

So, I have been putting off the great clear-out of the work shed since before we opened the Tavern for Easter. Yesterday I did all the mowing and lawns and repairs so today was the day. Decided to walk the dogs first - I know prevarication!! But is was just as well as the dogs managed to get a full walk.

So after breakfast out I went to the shed - firstly looking for the roll of black bags so I could get rid of the old layers pellets and expired chick crumbs - not confident that they would be healthy for the chicks.

But first I had to get in there so I grabbed the eukonebia (Dog Food) bag that is the receptacle for the empty bottles form the Tavern and swung it out into the beer garden !! Sadly, there was a broken bottle in there and it had stuck through the side and I didn't see it - so the bottle swung into my knee and the beer garden went red... Well not a lot - but enough to make it difficult to get into the kitchen without making more mess,

So back to our trusty First Aid kit that we bought for use in the Tavern.

A healthy rubbing of Hibiscrub disinfectant into the wound which was bleeding enough to reckon that no dirt was getting in there, and put a patch on it and held it with pressure to stop the bleeding.

Sadly an hour later and it was clear that it was still bleeding and due to the size of the cut Susie made the executive decision for me and off we went to the Cardigan Medical Centre.

I took a book - it could take a long time !

One from my old LARP colleague Adrian Tchaikovsky.. Managed a couple of chapters, but to be fair I was there less than ten minutes before I was triaged - with a decision that I should have an x-ray in case there was something still inside. Again it was less than 20 minutes for the x-rays to be done and checked.

Susie finished her shopping and it was not long until I was in and being treated with the wound being irrigated and decision that a bit of tape and some superglue would be the best solution.

And so all that fuss for a little would like this. Still it hurts like crazy this evening - hardly hurt while being treated but walking with a limp taking the dogs out this evening.

All in all I was seen and treated within 2 hours - which is amazing!!

Did the comparison sums thinking about the fact that this was all completely free. And the amount of kit and pieces used was surprising. New scissors, syringe, sterile bowl, fluid for irrigating the wound and clearing, lots and lots of cloth pads, towel, and gloves. Everything taken from sterile packaging and discarded afterwards. A very helpful trainee doing the work under supervision by the main nurse there, and a very pleasant atmosphere, despite being busy.

So looking at the costs - zero to me, I did a quick search of how much this might have been if I was in the USA...

The cost for treating a cut on the leg from a broken bottle (including cleaning, irrigation, x-ray, and closure with surgical glue/tape) in the USA can vary significantly based on where you seek treatment.
Urgent Care Center: Roughly $150 to $400 without insurance, or a $20–$75 copay with insurance.
Emergency Room (ER): Roughly $1,500 to $5,000+ without insurance, or $400–$650+ out-of-pocket with insurance.
Factors Affecting Cost
Facility Type: ERs are roughly 5–10 times more expensive than urgent care centers for non-life-threatening lacerations.
X-ray Requirement: An x-ray is generally needed if there is a suspicion of embedded glass or a bone fracture, which increases the cost of the visit.
Insurance Status: Uninsured patients will face the full "cash price," while insured patients pay a copay/deductible.
Wound Severity: A deeper, larger laceration requiring more extensive cleaning (irrigation) will cost more.
Cost Breakdown (Without Insurance)
Urgent Care Visit: $100–$200.
X-Ray: ~$100–$300 (often required for glass injuries).
Wound Repair (Glue/Tape): $67–$530 (outpatient/hospital).
Tips for Lowering Cost
If you do not have insurance, urgent care is generally the best option. If you must use an ER, you can often apply for financial assistance (charity care) or negotiate the bill down, as cash prices can sometimes be reduced.