Doctor Doctor!! It's a waiting game.

There is something about going to the doctors. A million reasons to go, sometimes uncomfortable, painful, routine, joyful and time consuming. 
It's a waiting game from making the first phone call for an appointment to entering the waiting room for your next big waiting session.
It becomes a serious tactical mission from the moment you take your seat.
Now it's so easy as most doctors waiting rooms have a nice bright 40 inch HD television which broadcasts your name, your doctors name and the room number.....if this goes horribly wrong and the admin had a few sherry's the night before your present medical problem could also go public. Well that's one way to become famous and get on TV, not so bad for ingrowing toenail but a case of gonorrhoea (phew didn't know how to spell that) might be something that needs to be kept neatly inside you medical records under a strict patient confidentiality clause. 
Years ago though you had to have your wits about you as long as you were not too ill to pay attention. You would have to book in with the receptionist and then get ready to start the waiting process, this was worse than 'The Hunger Games'. 
Who were you up against?, Who in the room was also waiting to see your doctor? Now you would know how many people were in front of you but it took great math and strategic plans to work it out.
As you scan the room, witnessing coughs, sneezes, quiet people, chatty people, those who were forced to read a copy of People's Friend or Womans Own from 1974 it would come closer to your appointment time. If Doc was on time it was time to make that 'ready to go' shuffle as you were next or maybe Mr Man Flu was on a double appointment as he wanted to get a case of gout checked out at the same time. 
The next bit was always the hardest, take your mind off the ball and it's game over, you either stall proceedings, making everyone late or you miss the appointment altogether and have to wait till the end of surgery. It is the part when you 'listen for your name to be called'. Did she say my name? You look around just to make sure no one else has the same name or something similar and then instead of waiting for a repeat, just jump up and go anyway. YES!! You are having this moment and practically running to Room 3 before anyone can catch you. Quick knock on the door and your at your finishing line like a scene in 'Chariots of Fire' You made it!
Thank goodness it's easier, the magazines are even more up to date now. Some rooms even have the radio on, everyone is in trouble if 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor comes on because I am owning that song, poorly or not!! 
You normally see someone that you haven't seen in years and the one question you want to ask is 'what are you doing here then?' but you know you can't. I would say it's not the time or place but it is completely the right place!! 
After a polite reunion with an old school mate, discretion being your middle name and hopefully everyone getting their prescriptions, tests and toenails done it's home until the next time. Busy places full of so many stories, some good, some bad but it's a great service, one we couldn't live without.......so I'd like to say thank you to the NHS and everyone who works there. 
Until tomorrow...........stay well.

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