A&E!

My daughter has been rather poorly for a few weeks and after nearly fainting yesterday she was told to go to A&E as it could be meningitis! (It wasn't) our local NHS decided in their wisdom to put the minor walk in centre in the same place as A&E. Also doing this with half the area boarded off while they renovated the area. So as a consequence the line was out the door and round the block (photo was taken a few hours later and still had people waiting). It took us an hour to get to the booking in place and that was with me jumping the line shouting meningitis to any staff member who would listen! The wait to see a doctor was 9-11 hours we were told. I felt very sorry for the poor over worked staff, its hard enough in covid times but huge numbers of grumpy, ill ( well some where, the lady with a chipped tooth not so!) People must be so stressful. There was one lovely lady walking up and down the line who was a volunteer, so didn't even get paid to be shouted at!. Daughter was tested and looked after by caring and lovely people and the outcome was an abnormal migraine, thank god not meningitis. I sat outside for an hour or so ( extras are not allowed to stay inside because of covid) with a few relatives and put the world to right with the conclusion that we are lucky to have free health care even if its not perfect and that we are not in Cabul desperate to get out. Would love to have had a conversation with one of the hospital managers though!!!