I take your point, but I can understand wanting your putative child to have a rich father. Call me cynical.

There are plenty of women who don't want their husbands to be stnuc, don't worry about it.

So, ever since a last had a cold late last year, I've been having sinus problems that just won't shift. Recently, this has manifested itself as really bad headaches and sinus pain - usually taking either Paracetamol or Sudafed capsules/spray will ease it for a while, but within a few hours I have a headache again. Besides, I don't want to rely on chemical sprays in the long term.

Anyway, to get to the point, tried to get a doctor's appointment today, thinking it might take a few days, maybe a week tops to get to see someone about it. Nah, receptionist tells me the earliest appointment they have is first week in May. WFT?!!! A full month before I can get to see someone? Apparently, some of their doctors are on leave this month (like it's my problem!), so that's the earliest space they have free.

If it's an emergency (which she said my problem isn't!) then I can ring back at 8am to try and get an appointment that day, but when you try that you're held in a queue and within 3 or 4 minutes all the available slots have been filled - so that's a waste of time, even if I could get it seen as an emergency case. You can't ring before 8am as the line just goes dead, so it's a race against however many people at 8am to get those elusive slots!

Surely there are NHS guidelines for the minimum amount of time you have to wait, anyone know what these are? I'm seething, which is only making my headache worse! Grrr.

No response from OCUK, other than the automated email I received after cancelling my order today.

I have dug out the name of their MD and sent him a formal complaint via snail mail. I'm not holding my breath for a response though. Didn't they draft him in a few years ago to sort out the business? What a fine job he has done.

I dont know what the guidelines are but relating to your problem reminded me of Nic. She suffered with her sinus for a month or two and it was driving her mad. A visit to the doctors was no help either. Then she decided to take some vitamin supliments of sorts. She settled on Berocca (the ones you plonk in a glass of water) and within a week or so - and since - has had no problems. It could be coincidence of course but she swears by them now.

I tried one and it made my pee look like strong orange juice.

I hate the way some GP surgeries are run.

In the olden days, it used to be pretty much first come, first serve. You could turn up at 9am and not be seen until 11am.

One of the practices I worked at had booked sessions in the morning so you could book say a week in advance for non urgent stuff. Then the afternoon sessions were book on the day. It was a little less chaotic/disorganised and meant the non-urgent stuff wasn't sidelined.

Current practice has booked sessions all day but if it's an emergency, you turn up between 5 and 6pm and you will be seen. Only proviso is that it is something that can't wait, otherwise you'll get a telling off from the receptionist and sent away.

Steve, be wary of a few things: don't use sudafed for more than seven days in a row or things can come back with a vengeance. Overuse of painkillers can in itself cause headaches. Is it better to turn up to the surgery on the day? I found it was easier to wait outside the surgery and book the appointment there rather than battling phones. I've always managed an appointment on the same day, within a few hours. The times i couldn't just wait, one of the family queued and booked for me.

I've used them a few times but always visited the actual shop (my brother used to live in Stoke). Even the sales staff are miserable. Looking into the office at the back I'm sure their "support" consisted of a small round desk with six people sat around it.

Although I can't endorse it, I do use Berocca quite regularly. When I did hospital shifts, I'd take it first thing with breakfast - mainly when on night shifts or awkward hours (ie other than "9-5"). When I worked in A&E, took it every day. I also take it if my insomnia kicks in as sleep-deprivation really hits my immune system.

And if you think the orange flavour makes your urine bright orange, wait until you try the tropical flavour. Neon green piss.

When I needed to see a Doctor within a couple of days but not an emergency as such this is what happened:

Recpetionist: Is it an emergency?
Me: Yes
Receptionist: What's the nature of your ilness
Me: I'll discuss it with the Doctor
<pause and keyboard tapping>
Receptionsist: Come at 5:30pm

Job done. Now you could argue that it wasn't a genuine emergency but then if it was you'd go to A&E most likely anyway.

I once had a SPECT scan and I could have sworn my wee was neon green after they injected me. Might have been psychological mind you!

Either way I'm buying some Tropical Berocca tonight. I can't pass up the opportunity to pretend I've got radioactive piss

Just read this. Receptionists are not allowed to triage. They have no medical training. If a patient they turned away subsequently died say from sepsis, the practice could be sued and they wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I'd ring up and then lie if I had to to get past reception. I'd also encourage a complaint to the practice manager asking about adequate medical cover, and receptionists triaging.

+1 to what Veato says. I always tell the receptionist that it's private and I'll only discuss it with the doctor.

How hard can it be for a hotel to give me an outside line on the phone in my room.
All they say I need to do is dial 9. But will their stupid phone system work? Will it F........

Gah! Wanted to go Nando's but didn't get a chance. Lil sis makes the offer of bringing home a takeaway when she goes to the city centre. Comes back empty-handed, with the "queue was too big" line. It probably was but she could have at least texted me or something to tell me. Rather than me sitting there, salivating like a dog with rabies, waiting for the food to come home.

So peed off, I've lost my hunger!

I went to Nando's for the first time on the weekend. I'll never go back as it is overpriced rubbish.