"almost nothing. The parking was ..."

What I liked

almost nothing. The parking was ok and the receptionists were civil at least, but that's the best ot be said of the experience. My wife had a temperature over 39 so we called our local clinic (Rutland House) who said they couldn't see her as it was too late (around 6) and that we've need to go to FM. When we arrived we were told to wait. That wait ended up being 4 hours, in which time her condition deteriorated, especially as it was so cold there. The others waiting were in a similar state. Those in worse states needed to lie, and had to across the chairs (metal). When we finally got to see the doctor we were asked if my wife had taken paracetamol. We replied given that we didn't know what could be causing her condition, we didn't want to take anything that would thin or thicken the blood in case it was the wrong choice. She got VERY angry at this point and called the nurse to get 2 pills, treating us like children. Then she did a few checks and announced that it was nothing more than a bad cold (I myself have never seen anyone lose all colour, go woosy to the level of fainting, and shake vigorously when suffering a 'bad cold'). She then sent us away prescribing the cure-all combination of paracetamol and water. I get the feeling the NHS trains its staff to prescribe this magic elixir for over 90% of illnesses. Later in the evening the fever did recede, but the coughing and aching in the chest that accompanied it did not. In a few days we went back to the Rutland House surgery and a rather competent and attentive GP, listened to the symptoms in full, asked a couple of questions, and immediately diagnoses bronchitis. He examined the chest and confirmed it. He then checked me as well, just in case, and gave appropriate medicine. Within 3 days she cleared up. So much for the bad cold.

What could be improved

The system - to better manage so that sick people don't wait 4 hours and deteriorate.

The doctor - the competence, attitude, and ability to listen and have compassion.