LISTEN FOR THE ANSWER
Richard B Gillion
2002

Doctor	Next please.  Ah, good morning, Mr Jones.  Take a seat.

Patient	Thank you, Doctor.

Doctor	What can I do for you?

Patient	I’ve had a nasty infection in my throat for three weeks and it’s not getting any better.
 
Doctor		I think I could . . .

Patient	And another thing, I’ve got so much wax in my ears I can’t hear the television unless it’s too loud for the rest of the family.

Doctor		Well that can be . . .

Patient	And I’ve got this cough which keeps me awake at night and wakes up the children too.

Doctor	I really think you should let me . . .

Patient	And this pain in my hip means I ought really to be seeing a specialist, but my wife said I would have to see you first.

Doctor	I can refer . . .

Patient	We’re running out of eye drops for grandma and the girls’ asthma is getting worse and what with my wife’s sleepwalking, I think I’ve got a headache from the stress, but I don’t suppose you can do anything about that.

Doctor	Well I wouldn’t jump to conclu . . .

Patient	We’re really worried about all the diseases that we could contract when we go to Portugal next month and my back problem means I don’t know how I’ll cope with the suitcases.

Doctor	Let’s deal with things one at a . . .

Patient	It’s good to know that the surgery is so near.  I’ll try to come again before I get so many different things to tell you about.

Doctor	What about . . . ?

Patient		Thank you for listening, Doctor, you’re so helpful.  Goodbye.