An Englishman in New York (follow up)

I notice that the doctor hasn't signed one of the prescriptions and ask him to sign it. He does, looks through the form and scribbles some other bits in.

I go to pay for the 5 minute exercise, notice various doctors business cards and make a point of picking one up for the doctor who saw me.

The receptionist who took the $125 off me smiled, gave me the receipt and bill so that I can re-claim it from our travel insurance when we get home and tells me that she hopes we get home soon!

I asked her how long my doctor has worked there and if he is part time or full time. She tells me that he started as a 'night doctor' and had been a full time member of the team for a few years now!!! I suspect that my facial reaction was a picture as I responded with 'Really?'

I race back uptown towards the hotel and the pharmacy that had earlier turned me away.

The pharmacist smiles forlornly at me as she sees me approach the desk. I hand over the script from the doctor I've just paid $125 for!

'What's this?' she asks.
'The prescription for the medication I require' I respond.
'I can't read what it says'
'Well I can give you the original from the UK that you told me you couldn't use?' I suggest.
'OK let me take a look at it. We don't stock those meds. i'll have to ring the doctor you saw to find out what medication you require' she tells me.
'Might I suggest you type the UK medication names into google and see what the equivalent is in the USA?' I suggest again...
'Well this one does have a USA alternative but this other one doesn't exist over here. There is something similar but not exactly the same.' she tells me after googling them.
'OK, can you give me those then?' I ask.
'No sir. They are not on the prescriptions you have, he's written the UK names of your medication here and we don't stock them. Anyway he's not written your name at the top of the prescription either. He's written something else that I can't really read. I'll have to call the doctor to find out what he means.'

Now at this point my blood pressure is several points higher than it was after seeing Dr Useless. I can see what's coming next. The surgery doesn't answer for over 10 minutes and they tell the pharmacist that the doctor is with another patient and nobody else is prepared to open my file!

The pharmacist asks me if I want her to make a copy of the original prescription. I tell her yes and that I'm going back to the surgery and causing a 'scene' about this fiasco!

I write the final instalment later today after we've moved rooms for the 2nd time!

BFN

Charles
xxx