Kerry Ann Warmington
My day starts at around 6.30 in the morning, in a whirlwind
of organising the school uniform, breakfast, football kit and out
the door by a prompt eight o’clock (well… ish!).
I arrive at surgery at 9.30, having spent
the past hour and a half tackling the school run, to a waiting room
jammed full of expectant faces belonging to people who have queued
up patiently for their emergency place in the morning walk-in
surgery.
I see patients every 10 minutes, up until
lunch time. All ailments walk through my door, some minor, some
head scratchers and some requiring a second opinion. Occasionally
the surgery can be an exciting place and I may have to call an
ambulance, with eager eyes in the waiting room peering round the
corner to get a glimpse of the drama every time my consultation
door opens.
After an hour long lunch break, which
feels like only five minutes as it often entails catching up on
paperwork, referrals, discussing any unusual cases and
investigation results, I restart my afternoon surgery at a slower
pace. These are pre booked appointments. I enjoy the relaxed
approach to the afternoon, and the patients quite often have booked
in specifically to see me. Once patients have been to see me to
discuss their diverse, often multiple medical conditions, they come
back as they like the continuity of care, and this provides a great
opportunity to build up rapport with the patient. As it happens I
know all about the undergraduate education of Mrs Jones
grandchildren, all 8 of them!
Afternoon surgery comes to a close around
five o’clock. I head back into the very inconvenient, not so
free flowing, traffic of the city centre, to attempt to collect my
son from school on time. At times, I have visions that when I
arrive he’d have been turfed out, with school gates locked, waiting
in the car park with all his school bags and football kit piled
high. As it happens I manage to arrive by the skin of my teeth,
where I am greeted with a big smile, and he’s waving a huge painted
picture of Mommy making someone feel better with her
stethoscope!
Hand in hand, we trundle back to the car.
What a great finish to a wonderful day!