The waiting room.

Sat here in the waiting room,

Watching for my name.

To go and see the doctor

Well that is why I came.

Not to watch the silver screen,

For it to show my name.

I watch TV at home not here

That was not my aim.

But now I keep my eyes glued,

Cos my hearings not too good.

I need to see my name on screen,

More than other people would.

So all that information,

Comes shooting out at me.

None of it is relevant

As far as I can see.

Don't miss your appointment.

Well I'm not likely to,

I had to wait a fortnight,

Before this one became due.

Don't forget your flu jab,

Which may well save my life?

Don't cough and sneeze on others,

Which may well cause them strife.

It goes on and on and on,

Until it shows my name.

And I go to see the doctor

When all that's numbed my brain.

[Kittykat2]

All so true Don .

I am usually early there and the doc running late...... sometimes more than 20 mins.

Must read that screen a hundred times apart from names it asks you about sleep apnea etc etc etc.

Dare not go to loo in case name comes up.

Brilliant and very true description 👍🏻👍🏻 x

[Hidden in reply to Kittykat2]

I've noticed that my doctor is never running late if I happen to be a bit late myself through being delayed, but when I get there early he's running late. 🙄

[MoyB in reply to Hidden]

That happens to us too! We always wait at least 20 mins but when my son was deemed 'late' because he didn't know he had to book himself in electronically he was told he'd have to make another appointment. He wasn't best pleased as he'd arrived early. He rarely goes to the doctors and didn't know about the little touch screen thingy. It's all gadgets now, isn't it? xx Moy

[SORRELHIPPO]

My Gp's practice is still sending Dr out of room to collect patient, the screen has adverts for local businesses which may help their finances but bore the pants off me, but better than the soft music they used to have in the background!!! I usually get to read the notices on the walls about 4 times (flu jabs, Health staff will not accept violent behaviour from patients etc etc) then turn to old mags, why only women's ones? I am not that interested in last years fashion and cookery. Why no Steam Engine Monthly or a sports annual or even a computer magazine. It seems as though men never go to the doctors, if you do, please bring in your magazines, so the women who are interested in things other than fashion/food/babies can have something to read!!!

[Candyred]

I called the doctors surgery yesterday looking for an appointment ..

“First appointment I can give you is Thursday 28th February”

Absolutely shocking ..

lovely poem Mr D and so true!

Huge massive hugs xx

[sassy59]

That’s so true Don and don’t get me started on all the info on the phone before you get to speak to a receptionist who tells you there are no appointments available so phone back tomorrow at 8 when there still won’t be one.......sound familiar? Xxxx😘😂

[Hidden]

It does sound familiar. I think it went something like this:

I need to see the doctor

An appointment I must book.

Phone between 8.30 and 9,

When we leave it off the hook.

[Carnival567]

It gets quite exciting when they change some of the info! Hope the visit went well xx

[knitter]

Why can't all docs be like mine

Just lift the phone or write on line

Within the hour

A reply you get

Triaged, and an appointment set.

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Those two years went fast. 😉

[Hidden in reply to knitter]

Hi knitter.

Please can I have your doctor's number......? 😉

[SquirrelsHolt]

Ever the joker MrD........but this is the same scenario,whether you're in London or Great Yarmouth.....2 weeks waiting for "the day", then 30 mins,sat waiting as you have said!😁😀😁

[Hidden in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

🤡 I know, I'm sure some must find it very wearing. If the GPs would only get their act together it would take a tremendous weight off the A & E and ambulance service.

[WheezyAnne]

Absolutely brilliant, really made me chuckle.

[Hidden in reply to WheezyAnne]

Good! 😊

[joyce74]

I always arrive early , can never be on last minute, and also get fed up with 👀 glued to the screen in case I miss my name. Another good one ☝️ Don

[JANET127]

That is Great! I love your Poetry! I also drive a motorhome! With a Hair Salon in the back! JANET 127

[Hidden in reply to JANET127]

Thank You. That sounds a good idea, do you cover a large area?

[JANET127 in reply to Hidden]

Don...I had my 1985 class C gutted and a Beauty Salon was put in along wit a 10000 generator. When it was done I called State Board and asked how I get it Licenced! They informed me..that it is not legal in Michigan! So I have a State Rep trying to change that law! Other states have them! So I just mainly do Senior Citizens, they love it! One day I had about 8 ladies in there. Someone took a pic outside , I bursted out laughing! There was 4 walkers out side there! Fun!

[Hidden in reply to JANET127]

What a brilliant idea, providing a service for those those with mobility problems. I can imagine that photo getting you valuable publicity if you got it in the papers. 😂 You would find parking a major problem here in the UK.

[Hidden in reply to JANET127]

Fantastic idea, and hilarious photo I bet! 👏😂😂😂

[Caspiana]

Here it's numbers on the screen Don. Apparently to safe guard our privacy. Every few seconds it flickers and new numbers come up. So everyone looks up in unison , then down again. Almost choreographed!! xx 😳😲

[Hidden in reply to Caspiana]

They have a numbers system at the Eye Clinic but manual. You take a numbered card as you enter. Nobody has mentioned the privacy aspect at the doctors as far as I know. It doesn't bother me, but if the doctor was a specialist in something personal the patient might not want their visit advertised.

[Caspiana in reply to Hidden]

At Tokyo University Hospital they actually issue you with a fancy gadget, that plays music 🎶when it's almost your turn. So everyone goes to the cafes and it's so much nicer than sitting in the waiting room for hours! 😊

[Hidden in reply to Caspiana]

What a good idea! 🧐

[Gladwyn in reply to Caspiana]

Sounds fantastic. Wish we had that here.🤒

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to Caspiana]

One of my hospital clinics does the numbers, reminds me of the cheese and fresh fish counters!!! Oh and the hospital vampires also

[Hidden in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

Come in number 10, your time is up! 😮

[Hidden in reply to Caspiana]

Sounds like a game of Bingo...? 👍😂

[Candyred]

I meant to say the receptionist put me on hold the other day then the DEXTER tune started playing! 😬.. I was feirt!

[Vibraphone]

Yes, very apt poem. At mine they come out and call peoples' names, not seeming to realise they need to say them loud and clear and more than once. It seems a bit time wasting but I suppose it gives the doctors and nurses a bit of exercise between patients which may be good for them. I notice very few people use the touch screen to say they have arrived. Is this because they fear germs being on it from all the other patients? or just because they like to apeak to a person in reception? Similarly very few read the mags - again to avoid germs? When automatic lights were introduced in the loo I did not know and when the light went out I thought there was a power cut so i sat very still. Eventually I thought i would feel my way round the wall to the door so when I moved the light came on! Then I had to go to another hospital, a private one for a flu jab. I went to the loo and the light did not come on so I told them at reception. 'You have to switch it on' they told me.

[Hidden in reply to Vibraphone]

😄 I can imagine how you felt when they asked you if you had switched the light on. I sometimes think that some gadgets are deliberately designed to confuse us. Thanks for the laugh, what a difference a sense of humour makes to situations like that. 😅

[Hidden in reply to Vibraphone]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[Hidden]

Oh Don. You're a tonic to sore ears. 😊

[Izb1]

Oh! So very true Don. My ex was in the army and when we needed to see a doctor we had to go through the system of first explaining to the nurse why, she would then decide if she would treat you or see the sister for minor problems or the doctor if neccessary, this all cut down the doctors time and we never waitied long, it seemed to be a better system. Keep us going with the poems x

[Hidden in reply to Izb1]

Ah! What memories, sick parade! It took some nerve to go on that even if half dead. 😥

[Izb1 in reply to Hidden]

Ha! Luckily I was an army wife so didnt go through the same trials, but very happy memories for me too x

[Hidden in reply to Izb1]

Yes indeed! "Am I hurting you lad? I should be, I'm standing on your ******** hair. GET IT CUT!" What merry japes we had. 🙄

[Gladwyn in reply to Hidden]

In my 3 years I never once went on sick parade 😀💊💊

[Shirleyj]

That definately sums up the waiting room 😊😊xxx

[Whitechinchilla]

Thanks Don. 😂😂😂

[May15]

Brilliant! Genius! Hope u didn't have to wait too long x

[Hidden in reply to May15]

It was some time ago. I forgot to write about it at the time. 😉

[majji]

lol - wonderful cap'n

[Susan1200]

I usually have to wait 3to 5weeks ,I always come 20 minutes earlier ,I like to see the same doctor when possible.

Last week the surgery receptionist telephoned me to say my doctor is unavailable on my appointment day ,so I said I shall wait until he is available ,she said he will be unavailable for a long time,so she said I had to choose another doctor,more she wouldn't tell me.so I feel quite sad about the situation as he really is a very good doctor, always time ,kind for his patients.i pray 🙏 he is ok.

So I will have to look for another surgery, hopefully to find another good old fashioned doctor.

[Hidden]

I have a similar problem. My doctor was a young man when I first saw him, now he has started working part-time and is semi-retired. It was difficult to get to see him before (my wife used to say he was a good looking chap and the ladies pinched all the appointments) now it's near impossible. 🤔 I hope your doctor is okay.

[emmo]

I think I'll copy this to the Doc's suggestion box!