Direct

I have a new patient. She lives in Double Bay, which the locals have dubbed Double Pay because that's what you'd need to be earning to afford to live there.

I rang the patient's mum to arrange an appointment time for a Monday or a Tuesday, neither of which was very convenient for her. She has a two year old son who's "a bit full-on", as two-year-olds tend to be. She'd rather come when he's at nursery, which is understandable, though she could make it during my lunch hour on a Tuesday.

So after I'd spoken to her I went to see Jackie, my colleague and immediate line manager, who's eight years younger than me, a situation I still find a bit odd.

"Mrs Jackson can't bring Heidi on Mondays or Tuesdays" I said. "Can anyone see her on another day?"

Jackie looked up from her desk and shook her head. "No, we're chocka. You'll have to ring her back and tell her how it is, tell her direct"

"Right. So what would I say to her then?"

"Well you'll have to say "look Mrs Jackson, We're trying to offer you a service here and we're doing our best but we need you to be a bit flexible too. I realise you have a toddler but that's the reality of your life right now, it's not going to change, it's time to consider your priorities"".

There was a pause while Jackie waited for me to agree this was the best course of action. I said nothing because I was trying to think of exactly the right words to sum up why I wasn't going to say that. In the end there was no other explanation so I just came out with it.

"I can't say it. I'm too British. Sorry"

"But that is the reality of her life. At the end of the day, she had him"

"You're right" I said. All was lost. I went back to my office and left Mrs Jackson a message offering an appointment during my lunch hour.

It'll never work, I'll never get citizenship.