NHS Out of Hours

[944fan]

There has been a lot in the press recently about out of hours / weekend service from the NHS. But I have just had a really good experience.

Making a GP appointment is a nightmare, you have to queue up at 7:45 and get whatever is left usually meaning the whole morning off work waiting.

Anyway, Saturday night had a very painful eye. Thought it have been aggravated by swimming or contact lenses. Sunday night it was very bad so went to the urgent care centre. I was seen by a Dr, diagnosed, given antibitoic ointment and a referral made to the specialist and home again within 50 minutes.

Eye care centre phones me next day, ask me to go in at 7:15 that evening. Perfect time as I was at work 1 hour away. See the specialist diagnoses a corneal infection (not good). Gives me prescription and tells me to come back tomorrow.

Been putting the eye drops in every hour and it has pretty much cleared.

If I had waited for the GP it could have been much worse.

Its very easy to criticise the NHS but I think they are doing well.

[Aphex]

Have only had good experiences with out of hours doctors

[944fan]

Yes - I was pleased that despite the fact he was the only Dr on duty he bothered to do a thorough investigation. Initially he said it was conjunctivitis but then decided to do an examination with dye and then noticed the abrasion.