Well this is different sitting here in an NHS walk in center. It is so quite I cannot believe how pleasant it is. There are only about four patients with relatives here. We are here to help a neighbour who has fallen out of a tree, yes fallen out of a tree.
Not the tree in the photo , a big tree in fact he fell at least 15ft to 17ft. and got up and carried on, and on not actually seeking any medical advice until the next day.
He tried to see his GP (general practitioner) who spoke to him over the phone . You have a real hard time getting to see a doctor these days. If you manage to get past the receptionist you get a call back from the doctor. Who decides over the phone what is wrong with you. Yes most doctors now have extra sensory perception and can make informed diagnosis over the phone.
Unfortunately for the patient many surgeries tell you to ring when you need the doctor, the doctor will then ring you back and decide how to proceed. This sounds like a good idea in theory but in practice it often means that though you may speak to a doctor you can go months without ever seeing the doctor in person .
Any way here we are sitting in this pleasant place. Our friend was called in within the half hour he was told was the wait.
As you can see the surroundings are pleasant, there is even a coffee shop, unfortunately closed as it closes at 5pm and it is now 7.20pm. So all we can do is wait and hope we do not have to take a trip to casualty or the ER as our American friends call it. As that would be a completely different story.
I kid you not Casualty is a whole different story. You can wait 6 hours or even much longer. They are crowded and stressful places.
Right now finally he has been seen and his is free to go home, with kind reassurance of a proficient doctor, a prescription in hand and us in tow. Home , dispensary then home. In to our friends for dinner! Then home by 9pm. The Hubby who is still not well suffering in silence not let anyone know how tired and in pain he is.
I am so tired I am going to have to say goodnight, this is almost like one of Linda’s SoCS posts!
This post is part of Just Jot It January hosted by Linda G Hill.
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willowdot21 
Jan 16, 2015 @ 00:52:37
Good to know you have good people handy when you need them. Your neighbor is lucky to know you. Bless your hearts. ❤ ❤
Jan 16, 2015 @ 15:42:25
We do our best Tess, and I am sure they would help us. 🙂 xx
Jan 16, 2015 @ 06:00:14
Our ER’s or “Casuality” are also wait-fests. My worst time so far was 13 hours waiting for a doctor. The times are all over the board, anywhere from an hour on up. But they do triage, so if the injury or condition is urgent you go first. I have walked in and went straight to a doctor without even sitting down a few times (scratched an eye once and was spitting blood the other time). God help you if you just have a broken bone or other non-life-threatening problem. I had some tests done one Friday morning and the doc got the results back late afternoon. He called me at home and told me to get into ER as the problem was serious. I knew i would be admitted, so I showered and packed some clothes in a suitcase and went to ER. the nurse saw me coming with the suitcase and was quite incensed. I played it for a while telling her I had waited mor etan 1 hours befiore 9true) and wanted to be abe to have a change of clotehs and toiletries. Ha! She was not amused. Then i told her which electronic records to check – the doctor had sent them – and that I would likely be admitted. I was after a wait.
Anyway, I hope your neighbor will be OK – that’s a long fall for an adult. Give him my best.
Jan 16, 2015 @ 08:23:07
Yes Paul a visit to ER/Casualty/A&E is a nightmare, horrendous waits and of late many have been apealing for patients to stay away and to go to their GP surgeries which I have explained in many cases is an almost an impossible task. Some hospitals have closed their casualty departments because they cannot cope. They have patients being treated or just waiting on ambulances, spending hours on trollies in corridors sadly it seems like our NHS is as ill as it’s patients.
That is why I was so impressed with the walk in unit. Where our neighbour was seen diagnosed all within just over an hour. He was prescribed with pain killers and muscle relaxants. We stopped off at a late night chemist to pick up the prescriptions then took the poor wounded chap home. I think he will be okay with rest and care. Which is more than I can say for the NHS.
Jan 16, 2015 @ 10:17:55
You’re a true friend, Willow!
Jan 16, 2015 @ 15:40:31
😉 we do our best
Jan 16, 2015 @ 21:55:50
So wonderful of you to help out! Waiting times can be horrendous – I’m glad you didn’t have a long one. 🙂
Jan 16, 2015 @ 22:00:06
I am telling you Linda I have never been more surprised in my life, even when I broke my back and went in by ambulance at 3.30am I was not dealt with as quickly!! xxxxxx
Jan 16, 2015 @ 22:06:10
Wow – now that IS surprising!
Jan 16, 2015 @ 22:08:23
Not in this country Linda!!