A fit young woman came to see me in surgery this week. She was requesting anti-histamines to treat her "terrible" hay fever. When the weather in summer is cool, wet and breezy, pollen counts are low. It is calm, fine weather that elevates the count, causing symptoms for millions. And this lady certainly did not seem particularly affected as she sat before me. Nonetheless, the word "terrible" was invoked. I'm reluctant to treat hay fever; I have the condition myself, but would prefer to have the symptoms rather than cope with the effects (drowsiness is a common consequence) of the medication. However, I always issue a prescription when asked, as I did in this case.
At this point she said:
"Do you think you could get my pharmacy to deliver my prescription to my home? I really don't want to spend any more time than absolutely necessary out of doors."
My response was no, I couldn't do that. The delivery service is under great pressure, I explained, and it is reserved for stroke victims, the elderly , the wheelchair bound who CANNOT get out of their houses to fill their prescriptions. She seemed to be deeply shocked by my unfeeling remarks, though she said nothing. Perhaps it sank in as she considered what I said that perhaps there was something in them. Looking like someone deeply depressed, she slunk out of my consulting room, and into the history books. This is the first time anyone has made such an outrageously inappropriate request, and I remain in a minor state of shock as to how anyone could be that selfish. But this is the face of the modern NHS, and of many of the people who use it...
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