"They all had that charm unique perhaps to the caring profession"

l saw a private podiatrist re toe damaged 50 years ago (following previous appointment few days earlier). On this visit, podiatrist indicated that she would contact my GP at Ardrossan Central Avenue Surgery, as soon as she had time. The rationale was that she would ask that my GP might make a referral for me to be seen at Ayrshire Central Hospital Dept of Podiatry as soon as practicable.

Since the weekend upcoming was a bank holiday, l felt it might be necessary to call ACH Podiatry to ensure l would not miss an appointment, should one be made for the days following the holiday. We all know that the various NHS locations are under enormous pressures and l was not surprised that l was unable to easily get in contact with the Podiatry Dept. I thought l might learn something if l managed to speak to someone at the GP though I realised it too would be busy and would soon be closing for the holiday weekend. The receptionist said that they could see no request for a referral. Finally l thought a quick call to my podiatrist might clarify matters!

She said that when she had called, the surgery was obviously very busy and she was unable to speak to anyone. Consequently, she had instead sent an email to the surgery with full details as to the request for a referral, and would now call the surgery urgently and would let me know what was happening.

She called me back and explained what had happened and what was proposed. The receptionist explained that as the surgery was very busy, some emails were still in process of being opened. The email was therein, but she was immediately enabled to speak directly to the GP.

Owing to impending holiday, the GP immediately sent a prescription for antibiotics to pharmacy which would be able to supply prescribed medication between 1000 and 1300 on following day. A referral was also made to ACH Podiatry and an appointment would be made. In the event, all medication was collected as planned from the pharmacy.

An appointment was then made for the Podiatry Dept to treat my toe on. At this time a fingernail was causing some pain and discomfort and the nhs podiatrist advised me to see a nurse at the Ardrossan Surgery. She treated the toe skilfully and made a further appointment for 1 week later. On returning home l phoned the surgery and spoke to Anne, a nurse at the surgery who would see me and my finger the following morning. 

I saw Anne and the fingernail was duly looked at by the nurse. No treatment was required and as Anne indicated would probably happen this troubled finger was very soon on the mend!

This story might be rather mundane and of little interest to any reader and, if so, l apologise. But a little mundanity can nonetheless be as illuminating as a crisis. All this mundanity did demonstrate that intelligence, humanity and compassion combined with competence and integrity are the qualities that drive our NHS. But, above all, the will to care is not some nebulous myth from bygone times but is alive and well and all of us are thankful that this aspiration is especially manifest throughout the “health” community! All of you shone!!

So, on behalf of my big toe, thanks to you all …those whose names l don’t know, well l apologise but you know who you are! So thanks:

My tireless podiatrist who misses nothing and leaves no stone unturned,  Anne Marie and all the efficient receptionists at Ardrossan surgery and never fail to show respect, Dr Adams whose competence and professionalism is only rivalled by his humanity, nurse Anne who simply knows what she’s doing and safely does what she knows, the local pharmacy who deliver antibiotics and big smiles, Podiatry reception down there in Irvine who get you who you want to get with cheery patience, Rowena and another podiatrist both thorough, informed and truly professional, Gemma, from my town, and two other nice people, from somebody else’s town, escorted me and my toe to treatment rooms and one of kindly put a bandage on the toe. But they all had that charm unique perhaps to the caring profession!!

Thank you all