We understand that when the Doctor or Nurse runs late it can be very frustrating and here at Temple Hill Group we understand.
The most common reason for running late is that several patients have come with either very complex or multiple problems. Remember 10 minutes is all that is allocated and only one problem is realistic in that time frame. We are dealing with complex human beings who we are trying to do our best for – you are one of them!
Urgent extras happen every single day and need to be seen – these are squeezed into a non-existent time between appointments.
Urgent house calls are sometimes needed and can be in the middle of a booked surgery. These often take a minimum of 30 minutes and disrupt the appointments.
We receive urgent phone calls throughout the day, either from patients, relatives, hospital doctors, district nurses, pharmacists, laboratories or care homes. Again these take time.
We are often in the position of breaking bad news to some of you. Maybe even the worst news of all. If that person was you, would you want us to get you out the door as quick as possible, when your world is falling apart.
We do not just stop seeing patients because all of the appointments are full. Every single day each doctor and nurse sees multiple extra patients with no appointments and this often means that they are late home to spend time with their own family.