[squirrel_hunter]

Ah yes the Red Tape I sympathize with you totally as I two had a similar encounter recently....

Before I begin I also wish to add a disclaimer "I have nothing but the greatest of time and respect for the individuals in the NHS, they have, and continue to quite literally save my life. It's the bureaucracy that's completely bonkers." (crtl-c, crtl-v).

I was quite ill a few months back and was close to death (well not quite, it was tonsillitis but never having it before it took alot out of me and after a couple of days I was starting to wonder what it was). My problem was I moved about a year ago to Sunny Swindon but never changed doctors, I just never thought about it. So feeling quite unwell thought it would be best if I don't ride my bike down the M4 back to my old doctors in Bristol, but to find a doctors in Swindon. So off I go to the same doctors a house mate is at.

Easy I thought just turn up see a doctor and be on the route to well again. Wrong. "I'm sorry sir but we are not registering patients from your postcode" I was told, it made no difference that a house mate was there, I'd have to go somewhere else. So I make a trip down to another doctors that they told me to see. Again "I'm sorry sir but we are not registering patients from your postcode", now I was getting a little frustrated. They said they didn't know why I was sent to them and to try another.

So I turn up at the next surgery. "I'd like to register and see a doctor please" I say. The receptionist said I would have to register, wait 2 days, book an appointment with Sister for a checkup, then I could see a doctor. At this point I didn't have any energy and left with 2 forms and a urine sample jar with the instructions to "fill these in". I get home and pass out for a bit. Once I come round I phone NHS Direct to find out if there was any way other then going to A&E to see a doctor today. No, I was told but I could see a nurse at a walk in center. So I go to the walk in center thinking it would be a waste of time, but at least I'll be in the system.

After a brief wait I saw the nurse, she diagnosed me and gave me a prescription of penicillin. I started feeling better by the second dose. The next day I decided that I would try and get registered so after filling in the forms and the sample jar I went back to the surgery. Gave the receptionist the forms but she wouldn't take my sample. Why, because I was "supposed to provide that when I saw the Sister", so why the f**k was I given the jar in the first place!?!

I'm now well and registered at a surgery. But what an effort. I still haven't seen a doctor. And the sample jar and its contents are still sitting on my desk.