The clinic has taken the unusual step of hiring a dentist to look after those patients who simply can't afford to pay for private treatment.

She could be released after 45 days under an order to seek private treatment.

If you have health insurance, you may be covered for private treatment abroad anyway.

"We don't get a lot of high-end calls, probably because those people have greater access to private treatment," he said.

I haven't included any medical insurance or costs as this varies and is generally bloody expensive for private treatment.

If I'd let him go to California, they'd pay the cost of private treatment.

Of course, patients can sidestep the wait by seeking private treatment.

But, he said, "We have a lot of people with master's degrees in social work, and private treatment is a growing industry."

I was relieved, indeed, when two days later, his relations called to take him home for future private treatment there.

According to recent figures, the number of people paying for their own private medical treatment is up 20pc year on year.