Tell me, is there anybody in the UK National Health Service that has more than 2 brain cells to rub together? I am fast despairing of it. I mean - would you send a letter to someone who is really unwell and finds travelling a real trial, and who lives in a far-off island, telling them to attend a consultation with a senior doctor in a major London teaching hospital within one week, and when the patient finally gets there the man is on annual leave? CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? I mean, never mind the £500 it cost them, nor the hassle that they will go through having to fly to Gatwick Airport and back and stay in a hotel overnight just to be sure that they will be there to see him. Not to mention the fact that it is half-term and all the planes are full so the fares are up, and the nearest hotel costs £165 per night - NO - let the patient go through all that and then sit down to chat with a locum. A LOCUM!! Like I need a locum after 14 years of the worst pain known to man? Hah Hah!!
As you will gather, my dander is somewhat elevated. The administrator agreed that they should have phoned me to ask if I minded seeing a locum. They were sorry - THEY WERE SORRY?
Ah well, at least we were able to express our concerns to them all, and so the locum went to find another consultant who works with the team sometimes, and he said that when Dr Whatsisname is back he will have a chat with him about my case, and he will telephone me. Thanks a lot - I can hardly wait.
