So (ever noticed how when being interviewed the
interviewee in answer to a question always starts with so?)… so let me do the
same here:
So I had cause to visit a medical practitioner
on Monday this week. Had been feeling ill for a few days, sore throat, body
aches etc- the normal winter flu type feeling. This was a doctor I had not seen
before… He glances at me after briefly reading the document I had religiously
filled in at reception, says to me I don’t look my age then asks me what the
problem is! I had hardly got the words “sore
throat” out when he tells me to sit on the examination table, takes out his trusty
flashlight, peers down my throat, says mmmm knowingly and then says he needs to
test for Covid…swabs inside my brain, and a few minutes later I am thrust a
rectangular piece of plastic on which a small window with two red stripes have
appeared and informed I have tested positive for Covid. Within minutes I have
been given a pre-packed group of medicines (all easily purchased over the
counter) and handed an A4 piece of paper signed by him and indicating I have
Covid. I am told I am no longer infectious as I had started feeling ill some
4-5 days earlier. And with that I am ushered out and into the start of my new
Covid statistical world. Immediately my positive status is sent to the Dept. of
Health and wherever else and along with others I am now part of the 5th
wave, justifying the call for harsher lockdown measures in our country!
My response? What a load of hogwash! I will guarantee that
my “flu” is no more than that! I was not
even checked for a possible strep throat or my temperature taken, or blood
pressure or any other questions asked. In and out within 13 minutes (I had my
stopwatch on). And all this on a brand- new patient of 69 years age?
What is more by the time I had reached home I
had “apparently” given permission for all 6 doctors at the Practice to access
my medical records- Discovery had sent me 6 smses telling me so and suggesting
that If I disagreed I could call them to query this. I did so! Press 1 if,
press 2 if and so on but no alternative given to say no to their accessing my
records. Eventually after jumping through many hoops verifying that I was who I
was, a consultant promised me that the permission would be revoked. I would
receive an sms indicating so. No sms has been received!
Orwell was correct with his Big Brother, 1984
novel! The only difference was he was a little early and the Novel was not
1984, but Covid.
