An NHS true story
From Mr Joe Haines Sir: At about the same time on Bank Holiday Monday that Charles Moore's dog became ill (Diary, 2 June), I was stung on the mouth by an insect while gardening. Mr Moore speculates that, had one of his children been taken ill at that time, it might have taken some days to get a doctor's appointment. My experience was to the contrary.
By 9.30 p.m. I was sufficiently alarmed by the size of my jaw and lips to phone the emergency doctor and was told to go to the local cottage hospital. I was seen and treated within five minutes. The swelling continued to rise the next day and at 4.30 I phoned my own doctor and was given an appointment for 6 p.m. I waited for 25 minutes, was given a prescription and collected it at the late chemist's at 6.40. It cost me nothing.
I would not extrapolate from my experience that everything is perfect in the NHS, but nor should Charles Moore assume that everything is invariably better in the veterinary service. My dog has sometimes had to wait a lot longer than I did for an appointment, and the cost of treatment today is so high that keeping a pet now requires a middle-class income.
Joe Haines
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
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