Ealing Healing
Earlier this week I registered myself with a GP near to where I live (which is the final part of the process of the home move I completed earlier this year). I am actually a little sad to leave my last surgery as the facilities there were excellent and the staff very good.
I am not off to a flyer with the new place. I tried to register when I first moved but a proper photo ID was required and I had to apply for a new passport before I could do anything. (That particular rigmarole was documented here earlier this year). I now have all the relevant ID etc so popped in last week to complete the paperwork but an initial appointment is needed for a new patient health check. So far so good. I made the appointment for Monday of this week.
The woman who interviewed me (I don't count being weighed and having my blood pressure taken as a 'medical examination') proceeded to ask me a number of questions, some of which have already been answered on my enrolment form and the rest would be answered when the request my medical records from my previous surgery in Harrow. I have taken a morning off work from this so am somewhat less than impressed with this. I assume the woman was a nurse rather than a doctor but my confidence was not inspired in either case.
The highlight of the morning came when the woman asked my religion. "Atheist" I replied. Them woman gave a small but genuine squeal of excitement at this as (she explained) "I've never had one of those before!" (I assume she meant in terms of new patients). She then spent what seemed like a long time looking at the electronic form for which box to tick. In the end she told me that she "could not find 'atheist' so Would it be okay if I put you down as Christian?"
I took a second to compose myself while I formulated a polite reply, pausing only to give her what certain of my friends refer to as "The Look" and then directed her attention to the 'No Religion' box instead. The remainder of the appointment passed without incident and I then set off for work but as first impressions go I have yet to be impressed.
I am not off to a flyer with the new place. I tried to register when I first moved but a proper photo ID was required and I had to apply for a new passport before I could do anything. (That particular rigmarole was documented here earlier this year). I now have all the relevant ID etc so popped in last week to complete the paperwork but an initial appointment is needed for a new patient health check. So far so good. I made the appointment for Monday of this week.
The woman who interviewed me (I don't count being weighed and having my blood pressure taken as a 'medical examination') proceeded to ask me a number of questions, some of which have already been answered on my enrolment form and the rest would be answered when the request my medical records from my previous surgery in Harrow. I have taken a morning off work from this so am somewhat less than impressed with this. I assume the woman was a nurse rather than a doctor but my confidence was not inspired in either case.
The highlight of the morning came when the woman asked my religion. "Atheist" I replied. Them woman gave a small but genuine squeal of excitement at this as (she explained) "I've never had one of those before!" (I assume she meant in terms of new patients). She then spent what seemed like a long time looking at the electronic form for which box to tick. In the end she told me that she "could not find 'atheist' so Would it be okay if I put you down as Christian?"
I took a second to compose myself while I formulated a polite reply, pausing only to give her what certain of my friends refer to as "The Look" and then directed her attention to the 'No Religion' box instead. The remainder of the appointment passed without incident and I then set off for work but as first impressions go I have yet to be impressed.