"..My scabby Shingles."

I got Shingles.

I knew it was Shingles when I confirmed it on the NHS direct website. I searched on the Sheffield.nhs web page to see which walk in centres were open in my area and saw that Sheffield had a relatively late opening one on Broad Lane.

I drove to the Walk in Centre, walked into the Walk in Centre (as cleverly descibed in the name), filled in a short form and handed it to the reception desk. In the time it took me to go to the gents to wash my hands and get out again, a security guard was waiting for me as he'd offered to show me to the Doctor I was due to see.

I met the doctor. He checked me over and said that I did indeed have Shingles. He prescribed me with some anti-virals and gave some advice before sending me on my way. The reception quickly advised which pharmacy was still open at that time and I went there.

I purchased the pills, took the drugs as prescribed and I no longer have scabby Shingles.

I would stretch this story out a little but I think that this concise version of events better illustrates the speed and efficiency that I experienced in the hands of the National Health Service. I am incredibly impressed and couldn't have asked for a better service at any point - from preliminary diagnosis to treatment. I'm also pretty sure that even BUPA don't offer you an escort to the Doctor.