"Exceptional Gratefulness"

Experiencing a worrying medical condition, I asked at the Forest Surgery Reception for an appointment with my regular doctor - only to be advised that he himself was off work unwell. The Receptionist advised that there were no appointments available with doctors on duty that day as they had taken on the patient workload of their colleague and were already overloaded on face-to-face consultations and taking bookings for telephone consultations if essential. Nonetheless, the Receptionist tried 'above-and-beyond' her own heavy workload at the time, to 'see-what-could-be-done' upon being assured of a genuine need and, much to my relief, 'slotted-in' an appointment at the end of the morning surgery.

The consultation with the doctor was a superb, unhurried, searching review with a detailed discussion on the symptoms and current affects of the condition, that resulted in an immediate medication prescription of antibiotics to start that day, to return promptly to see the nurse if the open wound failed to heal and valued guidance given on 'self-help' towards recovery.

The course of prescribed medication has had the desired effect to assist ulcer-wound-healing and the pre-consultation unpleasant symptoms have abated with the recommended exercises.

I am exceedingly grateful to the helpfulness of the Receptionist, who accepted the need to see a doctor, and the professional skill of the doctor that has resolved a most worrying condition that was giving me significant concern.

Thank you so much to the Forest Surgery Team for providing a superb service when needed: a glowing example of the best of our fabulous NHS.