"Needing antibiotics on a bank holiday"

My son developed an infected toe towards the end of a long weekend in London and we were advised by a London Pharmacist to contact NHS24 when we returned home to Hamilton, Scotland, that same day as my son needed a prescription of antibiotics.

My wife called NHS24 when we arrived home around 4pm. She felt that the member of staff she spoke to wasn’t very understanding of the situation and was asking her why the pharmacist couldn’t have solved the issue, despite them not being able to prescribe antibiotics, and they seemed perplexed by this. Fortunately, the GP was much more friendly and understanding. 

We received a call back around 7:30pm, much earlier than anticipated. We’ve had previous experience of NHS24's out of hours service when the children were much younger, and another 2-hour wait at 2am was expected.

The GP who called back from the Hamilton (Douglas Street) Out of Hours Service arranged for a prescription to be picked up less than 30 mins later. The expected wasted night was not to be. Kids tucked up in bed by 9:30 for school the next day and two chilled parents was what actually occurred. 

The member of staff I spoke to at the Douglas Street reception was very kind and helpful, this was despite some other service users leaving their patience and manners at home. I’ve also been the impatient and worried parent with a sick kid in that waiting room, so their patience and professionalism should be applauded.