That was not expected

[simont]

I popped into town at lunchtime to run errands. One of those errands was going to be dropping off a repeat-prescription form at my GP's surgery, to replenish my dwindling stocks of gluten-free pasta.

Only, when I got to the surgery, I found it had vanished. The nameplates on the door had been replaced with blank plates, and there was no indication that a doctor's surgery had ever been there. No notice saying ‘we have moved to new premises’, or even ‘we have closed permanently’. Just a blank door and no explanation.

I'm somewhat surprised. I'd have expected a letter to all their patients, or something. I stood and gaped at the door for quite a while before wandering off looking confused.

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Is this on Trinity Street? They have semi-predictable summer closing now and again whne the students aren't here.

[simont]

No, it was the Bridge Street Surgery.

Googling suggests they've moved round the corner into All Saints Passage, but I did look there briefly and they weren't obvious. Possibly I should go back and look again when I'm not in quite such a hurry.

[isihac.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's round the corner. No, they didn't send letters out. Yes, there were signs at the old place from a while before the move until a little while after. No, it's not immediately obvious which building it is in now.

Go past the cheese shop (from the old surgery direction), last door on your right before the terrace ends (if I recall correctly). Looks newer than anything else and has one of those 'push to open' big buttons for people who need it.

[simont]

Ah, that would explain it. I got as far as the cheese shop and gave up. Whoops. Thanks :-)

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

"Now then, a prescription please, my good doctor."

"Certainly, sir. What would you like?"

"Well, eh, how about a little gluten-free pasta."

"Never in Bridge Street, sir. Always have that in All Saints Passage."

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

I had known it was going to move, because there were signs all over the place, but I missed the new place on my first try, too.

New receptionists seem incompentent, alas. Nice buildings, though.

They apparently do online repeat prescription requests nowadays, but I've not tried the service...

[simont]

Ooh. Now that would be a handy thing; currently getting a repeat prescription is a thoroughly tedious job involving multiple trips into town.

[sparrowsion]

They're at the All Saints Garden end, beyond the cheese shop (and, I think, the scaffolding) if you're coming from Bridge Street, with a big newly-cleaned stone portico. I've noticed the old surgery as having been closed for several months—I'm really surprised they didn't send their patients letters. I'd have a word with them when you go in.

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

It's mentioned in their online newsletter. But yes, I'd have a word.

[simont]

They have an online newsletter? First I've heard of it.

"But the plans were on display..."

[pne.livejournal.com]

"That's the Display Department!"

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

http://www.bridgestreetsurgery.com/ (http://www.bridgestreetsurgery.com/).

[rmc28]

There were newsletters all over the surgery from when I was pregnant onward. I remember discussing it with my midwife in the heatwave last summer when they'd 'helpfully' scheduled all the midwife appointments on the first floor.

[gerald_duck]

I've not seen the surgery's new incarnation so can't comment directly on its conspicuousness, but it does exist, and it appears lizzip is still able to find it whenever she needs a new fix of drugs.

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

Happened in May, as I recall. I only knew of the move because I was seeing the physio earlier this year and my appointments spanned the move. The new premises are very nice inside, if you can find them :)

[rga24nl.livejournal.com]

A prescription for GF pasta? Is it any different from the rice and potato based stuff sold without prescription at Tescos?

[simont]

Yes; this stuff is made by removing the gluten from wheat. So it's not safe for people with a wheat intolerance rather than a gluten intolerance, but OTOH it's generally superior pasta – better taste and texture.

I have no idea why it's only available on prescription. I can see the value in GF staple foods being available on prescription, because that means people who can't afford to buy expensive specialist food can still follow their GF diet if they can get themselves into a category of people who get their prescriptions free. But there aren't any legally controlled drugs in it as far as I know, so I can't see why it shouldn't also be sold in the shops for those of us who find faffing with prescriptions to be a huge annoyance. But, for some reason, it isn't.

[atreic.livejournal.com]

Gluten free people can eat the wheat free pasta though, can't they? In which case it's probably not worth the supermarket's while stocking two things for a very small market, even if that means they stock the less nice thing that serves a larger group of people.

[simont]

Perhaps; but even if supermarkets didn't feel like stocking the stuff, I'd expect there to be specialist shops, or mail order, or some means of getting hold of it, unless the manufacturers were deliberately refusing to sell it on a non-prescription basis.

[sunflowerinrain.livejournal.com]

I had a similar experience a few years ago, but in that case I knew they still existed because I'd phoned for an appointment. Had to phone them again to ask where they were - fortunately more-or-less in the same place but in a new building and with an entrance on a completely new road.