first mate

Can anyone explain why pubs in the evening are a good place to take toddlers? What do they get out of it, especially on lovely sunny evenings? Wouldn't they be better off in the garden or in the park or playing at home?

BN, Agree with you that if you have a specific and clear cut acute illness then the phone approach can work, after all we have NHS direct as an example of consultation by phone. Also, guess we would all feel quite happy to discuss pretty much anything to do with our children over the phone, somehow it doesn't feel intrusive or threatening in the same way. They might consider offering phone consultations for those who feel they can work with that system, but ultimately let the patient decide whether they need to see a doctor or not. I don't think that there are many who want to waste the doctor's time with petty stuff...though there will always be a few. Perhaps they need to think this this new system through a bit more. Wonder if anyone from the surgery reads this?

Cassius, Glad you've got your appointment, but glad you also emphasised the point about confidentiality re intimate problems etc.. What are you supposed to say over the phone if you've got say: erectile dysfunction; bowel problems; post natal depression; bad skin......?! The list goes on and on. Even if you can find a quiet space to have the phone call it still doesn't feel comfortable or right to have to discuss very private matters in this way. In addition, when the receptionist asks, as she did me, "what's the matter with you", one is inclined to say that's between me and the doc, or words to that effect. A receptionist subjected to constant rebuffs, however gentle, is going to get p***** off pretty quickly, and that doesn't help either. Still say it's a truly loony system and could only have been invented by an organisation intent on saving pennies where it can.

I too have just asked for an appointment and was amazed to be asked by the recepetionist what was wrong with me and then to be told I would be telephoned later by a doctor, who would assess if I needed to be seen. I have been with Melbourne surgery for many years and have to say that this seems an absolutely loony system. If I see a doctor I wnat to see them face to face not to discuss symptoms overthe phone. Not wanting to sound paranoid but I think there is a huge confidentiality issue here. I suppose that next they'll be outsourcing consultations to call centres or doing them over Skype. The doctor /patient relationship has to invovle physical proximity, surely. Many people find it hard to discuss ailments and a valuable part of the assessment processs involves the doctor being able to look at you and to examine you. If this continues I'll be voting with my feet. The recptionist told me that this system was being "trialled" elsewhere, couldn't be more specific though, and that the sytem had proved popular and succesful. Does anyone have evidence of this?

Does anyone think that there might be a relationship between the amount of banks and other large companies using call centres in India and cc fraud? I have made it a rule not to give any details to call centres outside of the UK. It's a pain and I might be completely wrong, but a few of the last postings on this subject seem to have an Indian theme.

Chav, I put my dog's deposit bag into the first bin I can find, so long as it's not garden waste. On the whole I think people would rather that than it not get picked up, but I understand your concerns about how it's treated. However, there is no excuse for dog excrement being left by the human owner, all dog owners should simply get into the habit of carrying bags at all times. Southwark even provide special pooh bags. Moving on to the subject of litter in general; I do wish that littering humans and their progeny would stop dropping their food remains all over the pavement and in the parks, including but not limited to: chicken and pork bones, chewing gum, chocolate...oh and pills. All of these are potentially life threatening to dogs if consumed, not to mention the rats etc.. they will attract. Weil's disease, carried in rat urine, is a killer of humans.

Woodie, I think you have missed the point. I am not asking for dogs to be allowed inside the cafe. I am raising an issue about service to me as a cafe user. If you do not want to tether your dog outside it is very difficult to get the attention of staff in order to get a coffee etc.. I am advocating a compromise whereby lone dog owners could place an order outside or at the cafe door. This could be regarded as the quid pro quo for agreeing to stay outside. I have already explained that tethering a dog is not without risk. Dog theft is on the rise and yes it can happen right under your nose -see attack of woman in recent dog theft attempt on Peckham Rye. Also,I do not want my dog to be approached by a strange toddlers when he is tethered, not because he is anything but sweet natured, but because I could never guarantee his behaviour with a little creature without me there to supervise, no dog owner ever should. As I said, I have witnessed too many Mums just let their toddler wander up to a tethered dog. If anything ever happened who would get it in the neck? I'm not anti Mums or anti toddlers, but I've seen this happen. Finally, I assume that a park cafe is there to be enjoyed by all who use the park, you get a lot of dog owners who are very regular park- goers and would love a hot cuppa after a frosty walk.

luke dogwalker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Whilst I wish the cafe folk every success, and it > is a great addition etc, I'm afraid that I won't > use it in the winter as I have dogs. I'm not going > to pay the same price for a coffee or food (thats > going to get cold real quick because I have to sit > outside) as the people inside who are sitting in > the warm(!) > I will not tie my dogs up outside, anywhere, also > I don't mind children, but their are far too many > inside for me. Which leads me on to my request. > Could we in the summer months, please have a child > free area on the grass to the right of the cafe as > if you were outside looking at it? We could sit on > the chairs without worrying about parents letting > their little ones wander over willy nilly with our > four legged friends. My dogs are very well behaved > and always accompany me to the pub etc. Have to agree with you Luke. As a fellow dog owner it's hard to be on the outside, in the freezing cold, trying to get the attention of a member of staff, just so you can order a coffee in the first place. It's even tougher when you are asked by those inside to please shut the door because they are feeling a draught! I can see that parents may well object to even well behaved dogs being inside the cafe but perhaps a little more consideration could be given to us dog owners. We are also fully paid up members of the community and probably spend more time in the park, in all weathers, than others. We also pay the same price for the privilege of consuming our coffee and food outside. Like Luke I won't leave my dog tethered outside because dog theft is a serious concern and too many mothers will let their toddlers just wander up to any dog tied up outside, assuming that it must be 100% safe. Obviously no dog can ever be trusted with kiddies, especially those it does not know. If the child gets snapped at the dog is branded vicious. So, as well as a dog friendly summer space, might cafe staff also perhaps come to the cafe door, or even outside, to serve us dog owners? How about some patio warmers too?