KT wrote:
>Do you really want me to rise to the bait here? ;-)
>
>There is nothing *convenient* about ill health.
>Whilst I would not go out of my way to make it difficult to see a
>doctor, I very strongly believe it is up to the patient to find the
>time, not up to the doctor to acquiesce to an open all hours policy.
This is an important principle. When did you last consult a
dentist/solicitor/barrister/accountant etc. outside 9-5?
Especially for a routine problem.
Why should we be available outside "normal hours" to deal with somebody's
athlete's foot, simple haemorrhoids, backache or similar longstanding,
non-urgent problem of little more than nuisance value?
I recently had a long telephone consultation with the wife of a man,
currently at work, who needed to see a doctor but was *unable* to get time
off. She wanted a routine appointment after 7.00 pm or at the weekend, and
was very miffed when I declined, threatening to "report me to the Health
Authority" for my "unhelpful attitude"! I invited her to take her family to
any local practice with my blessing, and she retracted.
I hope she's happy with her new doctor, but I suspect her new doctor may not
be, and it annoys me to have to dump on a colleague over something that
should be sorted out centrally, by a *proper* contract, negotiated not
imposed, which allows us the option of a vaguely normal home life.
Rant mode off, open that wormhole, maybe it'll be better in the Delta
Quadrant!
John.
Dr. John Caldwell
Liverpool, England, UK
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