I spend a great deal of time extolling the virtues of the health service on the Island. Few public servants have a particularly easy time these days despite what many of the rest of the public think. Sometimes, however, they do make it difficult for the public to sympathise.
Not having had a call returned I popped into the Health Centre on the way home from town this morning.
Me "Please may I see the lady who looks after the admin for the specialist nurses."
Person 1 "She's got someone with her. Can you wait 10 to 15 minutes?"
Me(albeit reluctantly) "OK."
Person 2 a few minutes later "Sorry you can't just see her now she's a busy person. You'll have to make an appointment."
Me showing some impatience "I have to make an appointment to see someone so that I can talk about an appointment she's already making for me with a specialist nurse? I've popped in here because I can't get through on the phone."
Person 2 "She's on holiday. I'll get someone to telephone you but it will be Monday."
If you can make sense of that then you are a better man than I am Gunga Din.
I blame privatisation. Ever since they closed local gas and electricity board offices the special people they used to employ have moved into surgeries.....don't swear at them they can't help being plebeians. They were born that way.
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky on the whole because our surgery's receptionists are usually very pleasant and helpful. The Health Board's however seem to be bucking the trend.
DeleteThis reminds me of James Thurber's short stories. Do you know them? Google "The Unicorn in the Garden". It might cheer you up. But you do have my sympathies.
ReplyDeleteI didn't Frances but I do now. Interesting.
DeleteNot surprised but I'd be just as frustrated. (Calling my health centre yesterday I had to wait 2½ hours before they called back to check what I wanted.) Would make a good beginning to a story though. Was there really a "someone" with her? And did they knock and enter and found the room empty (and maybe the window open) and no idea what happened??
ReplyDeleteYour explanation Monica is as good as any is likely to be.
DeleteWha???
ReplyDeleteI blame plain old 'being rude' on that one.
Deary me :-(
I just hadn't thought of such a simple explanation Jaz. You are probably right.
DeleteI feel your pain GB...that's ridiculous...
ReplyDeleteGive them a call first thing on Monday morning, and see if you can get it sorted out then...don't lose any sleep, or stress over it...until then enjoy your weekend.
The plot thickens Virginia. I shall do an update comment when I've finished responding.
DeleteEh? Sounds like a little dose of truth would have helped at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is always easier than a lie Katherine. I wish people would remember that.
Delete'Why don't you just b*gger off' might have been a more honest response. Even nice people sometimes have off days.
ReplyDeleteToo true Marcel. You and I would never have thought such a thing though!
DeleteDid she escape or did she go on holiday or are they a bunch of liars? You stumbled upon a real whodunnit. Having to make an appointment with the person who makes appointments is a few steps beyond ridiculous, I think.
ReplyDeleteWow Pauline as you were typing this comment I was typing the up to date situation. I agree it was beyond ridiculous and my attitude probably reflected that.
DeleteUpdate. Later on Friday afternoon I received a call from one of the District Nurses who had found my original phone message. He obviously had no idea that I'd been in to reception that morning. He was very helpful and, having ascertained what my problem was, said that a specialist nurse would telephone me within a couple of working days. Just in case she didn't he gave me her number. Progress.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds better!
DeleteThat is good news....now what shall we do about those two rude women???
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