January 21 Closure of village GP surgery to be decided

“There aren’t that many people if truth be told and most don’t like fussing.”

Mickey Miller, on the case, asks of patients with ongoing medical conditions, but all the outgoing Doc can offer is a few cases of asthma and one woman with bad arthritis whose son cares for her, getting whatever medication she needs from the hospital in nearby Leeds. Miller continues his evidence gathering, asking about teenagers wanting contraception, hypochondriacs, families with young babies or older incapacitated relatives. Each of his queries is answered with kindness and an increasingly apologetic tone but doesn’t require a lot to be written down.

“We’re surplus really, them that need medical help call an ambulance or go elsewhere, to Leeds, like I said, even calling 111. There aren’t many who bother now, many think we’re already closed.”

In summary, Miller writes on his pad, to fill the page, the village population is small and seemingly blessed with good health and of the few appointments he’d seen so far, most were what could be categorised as ‘social’ or ‘message carriers’.

“You’ll have to be a good listener, if you plan on staying,” Doc tells him, “but it’s up to you now, son.”