Yesterday I filled in for one my partners and covered the Friday afternoon surgery. Well known as being often the toughest gig of the week, I was certainly out of practice.
When I started out in general practice I did every Friday afternoon for 4 years. I then took my earliest opportunity to hand it on to the new junior partner, who then handed it on herself when a third partner was introduced. Yesterday's surgery showed how dramatic these things can occasionally be.
My very first patient was a 1 year old boy, said to have been unwell all week with flu like symptoms. His temperature was 40.7, and more worryingly seemed irritable, in a way very different from the tired, can't-be-arsed irritable thing little ones often get into. This can be a sign of cerebral irritation, or "meningism". I phoned the hospital to arrange admisssion and next for a taxi stat, knowing this would be the quickest way to get him there. I do hope the whole thing was a false alarm. I love making mistakes, especially ones like being too cautious.
I misjudged my brother, it seems. Within 36 hours of our little chat he had caught the train home, thanking everyone most humbly for all their help and confirming what was plain to see; namely that the sea air has done him a power of good. Good for you mate!
Today we undertook a 9 mile walk through the countryside north of Ross-on-Wye, specifically to catch 2 ancient churches: the church at Dymock, a bluff Norman edifice that even has some of its Anglo-Saxon beginnings still visible, and St Mary's church at Kempley, another Norman church, but notable for its extraordinarily well preserved medieval wall paintings. How they escaped the Puritan vandals I have no idea.I took a few shots, but it's hard to do them justice. The roof is the oldest surviving timber roof in England. I love that sort of thing. Plus it didn't rain, preferring instead to be a delightfully balmy (some call that humid) day out.
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