TY - JOUR T1 - A patient's diary: episode 15 — the new neighbour JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 214 LP - 214 DO - 10.3399/bjgp08X279580 VL - 58 IS - 548 A2 - , Y1 - 2008/03/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/58/548/214.abstract N2 - On Sunday afternoon I was washing the car when our new neighbour, the bearded man from No 27, crossed the road to have a word with me. He and his wife actually moved in about a month ago but Hilda and I for one reason or another had not so far made their acquaintance. It's not that we're snobbish or anything — it's just that they didn't seem quite the Chestnut Avenue type. Anyway when I saw him coming towards me I decided to put prejudice aside and greeted him with neighbourly cordiality. After a few exchanges about the weather and the garden, he said he'd been told that I was very knowledgeable about health matters and he wondered if I could recommend a good doctor in the area.‘Do you mean,’ I said, ‘that you have been here a month and you haven't registered with a doctor yet? That's very risky.’ Then he explained that he was in fact registered with Patients First, the new style ‘polyclinic’ in the High Street. But although they have very smart new premises and are open all hours, he wasn't really satisfied with the service he was getting.‘Might I enquire’ I said, ‘in what respect you find your present medical advisers lacking?’ Then he explained (in confidence) that … ER -