"Listens,considers,acts with expediancy and..."

I have been an active and mostly healthy person for most of my 62 years, but for the last 2 years, I have been incapacitated and in almost constant pain in both legs. As yet, the disease has not been fully diagnosed. However, this does not in any way reflect on the service or the professionalism of the doctors I have seen at Harptree in relation to this and other more routine ailments that I have had.

It is the nature of the surgery not to have the same defined doctor every time you visit. Although this may help the surgery more effectively manage their workload, and the patients get quicker appointments, it could potentially have been an issue for me with a complex condition. So far, this has not been the case. The recording and documentation part of my treatment is clearly well administered and the various doctors seem to pick up easily enough where others have left off.

In particular, I would like to thank two doctors who I think go beyond the call of duty and have always afforded me appropriate time during visits to express my concerns and consider alternatives in a very professional way. They are also “just nice people”. This means something to me and really helps. Thank You.

On a more formal note, they have always:

Listened attentively to complex issues relating to my illnesses. Checked back to qualify their understanding. Considered alternatives.

Shared and discussed available actions and options with me. Taken action in a timely manner. .... All of which of course, really helps too!

What more could one possibly ask for? Well, a diagnosis would be nice of course, but I know they are doing all they can and I have faith in them to identify the root cause of my illness. All in all I have had far better service from the NHS than I have ever had from the Private medical sector.

Haraaah for that!

And finally.

I had to go to the sister surgery in Cameley to see a doctor this week. Whilst there, there was a serious issue with a patient having to be administered to hospital. Naturally appointments were delayed, but the doctor still made time to review and understand my changing situation; fully focused, with not a trace of stress. How do you do that?

All the staff in reception were helping each other out and were so friendly and helpful that I felt compelled to buy them some biscuits -a very small and deserved “Thank you all”.