An Englishman in New York (part three)

Just had to have a quick read to remind myself where I'd got to in this 'Brian Rix farce'!

By the time I get back to 'Beth Israel Medical Group' on on 7th Ave & 23rd Street, I'm fuming and getting very tired as well.

I walk right past the useless receptionist and through to the medical staff. The nurse who originally took all my details looks at me with a look of surprise as do a medical clerk and another doctor sitting behind a counter in front of me.

I explain why I'm there and tell them that their treatment of me as a patient is unacceptable and that I will be lodging a formal complaint.

Everyone suddenly jumps to attention!

The doctor behind the counter asks to take a look at the prescription that Dr Useless had issued and promptly rolls his eyes to the ceiling as he shows the shocking script to the nurse and medical clerk. The Clerk then says she's speaking to the pharmacist I'd been to for the prescription.
'Pity you couldn't have done that when she first rang you 20 minutes ago!' is my stinging response.

Dr Worried begins to read my notes file, asks to see my UK prescription and begins to re-write a prescription PROPERLY AND IN A WAY THAT SOMEONE ELSE COULD ACTUALLY READ!

He then promptly rips up the original and throws it away.

I chose not to tell him that I have a photocopy of the originals!

I tell them a few more home truths about the way they run their 'clinic' and what I think of their general customer service techniques. I remind them that I am making a formal complaint against them for the way I have been treated and depart.

I then high tail it back up to Duane Reade further up on 7th. The pharmacist smiles from behind the counter as I approach. I hand over the script. Of course. it's now past pharmacy closing time isn't it...

'DO you really need it now sir?' she asks.
'Well it's not essential. I'll need the tablets in the morning though. What time do you open?'
'7 o'clock sir.' comes the reply.
'OK as long as it's ready first thing for me to pick up then that's OK with me.'
'I'm at another pharmacy but I've already alerted to my colleague who is working here tomorrow to explain that you may be coming in!' she explains excitedly.

When I get up to our room on the 18th floor, I find my key card is not in my pocket, so I knock on the door. No reply. I then remember that we'd arranged to meet up at the Hotel bar - Niles - for some food and a drink some 3 hours earlier! Back in the lift and down 18 floors then!

The bar staff say they've not seen them and promise me that IF they come in they will tell them that I've gone back to the room.

I pick up a new key card from reception and go back up to the room, where I find a message from Sue and Jim saying they'd been worried about me and had walked back down to the medical centre where the staff had got really abrupt with them! I wonder why that was? I'll be adding that to the formal complaint!

The two of them arrived about 15 minutes later. I'd probably been in at the pharmacy when they were walking in that part of town or something.

They nearly fall about when I tell them what's been going on!

BFN

Charles
xxx