Yay, it is Friday again, and Fandango has just published his Friday Flashback post. The idea is that he picks a post from this day in a previous year, to give newer readers a better insight into what does and doesn’t make him tick.

I have always liked that idea, so shall also post my own reminiscence. As much as anything, it reminds me of where I was, where I am now, and how far I have come. Hopefully, you will find it entertaining along the way.

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Two years today, to a run-in that I had with the doctor’s surgery. I’ll let you read the details below.

I am glad to say that since then, things have improved.

I’d like to be able to say that this is because the staff are better-trained, but I seriously doubt that.

The situation has improved because:

1. The UK now has a very belated online prescription service, or in fact many of them. I order meds by going to a web site. The request magically flies through the ether to the doctor, who magically signs it and sends it to the pharmacy, again via the ether. The pharmacy picks out all the meds, then has a guy who drives around all day, delivering medicine to people like me.
2. My wife now works at this surgery. If I need a blood test, it happens in the kitchen, before she leaves for work. I have not been to the surgery since shortly after this flashback. In fact, the flashback prompted me to look for other ways of obtaining my meds.

Fruitless

I need a fresh batch of meds each month.

When the meds arrive, they come with a slip to re-order. When I need fresh meds, I fill out the slip and drop it at the surgery. Two days later, I go back and pick up a prescription. There is, nominally, an ID check when they hand the prescription over. I then take the prescription along to a pharmacy, where they give me the meds. Not Amazon, but seems to work.

Last month, I needed to see the nurse for a blood test. I’ve started taking a new med for my diabetes and I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t screwing my kidneys over.

I go to the nurse to get the blood test. She is trying to be as helpful as she can.

– Would you like me to print off your next prescription?

– Yes, please, would you mind?

After all, the surgery is about my walking limit, so the fewer trips I need to make, the better.

I’m happy to have the prescription, and did not notice until I got home, that she had not given me this slip, to order the next batch.

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