"Compassionate Out of Hours Doctor"

It started with a cough and cold on At the end of December, this got worse over 3 days such that by the evening of the third day I was in severe pain in my chest every time I coughed.

By the start of January i had had enough and rang NHS24. Both the Call Handler and the Nurse were very good and I was referred to the Out of Hours Service in Stirling Community Hospital. My wife drove me in, we arrived at about 06. 45. I was seen within a couple of minutes by the doctor. He examined me and diagnosed Pleurisy in my lungs which explained the horrendous pain I was having every time I coughed. He prescribed antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory and I was on my way home at 07. 10.

I cannot praise this doctor more highly. I cannot remember a medical person who was as caring as he was ever in my almost 6 decades on this earth. He was totally focussed on me, was very patient and compassionate whist at the same time doing his job in a competent and effective manner from the medical viewpoint.

The medical profession needs more doctors like this, I wish I could clone him, it would transform our medical services which are sometimes staffed by folk who are not patient centred and focus more on the condition than the suffering patient.

I do not have his name but will be forever grateful for his compassionate approach. If he reads this he will know who he is I am sure.