A - Z Challenge 2024 - D is for Dentists and Doctors

This year I'm blogging about my local area.  

My area?  Highams Park which is in the borough of Waltham Forest in North East London, (UK) a little known place that nestles between Chingford and Woodford that most people only come to if they have a specific reason to - if not we usually get bypassed.  Suits us.

Having lived in Forest Gate in East London for 36 years (and for my husband 65 years!) moving was a big deal for us.  But we've been in Highams Park since September 2020 so I feel I know enough about it now to fill out 26 posts! 

We've only moved just over 5 miles but we didn't know this area at all before moving here.  Although of course we did have a good look around when looking for a house and there were a number of things we wanted on our check list.

Two very important things on the list were being able to get to a Dental Surgery and a Doctor's Surgery easily.  We were definitely trying to futureproof where we moved to.

Thankfully we have both within walking distance from our house.  Of course nothing is perfect - the Dental Surgery, like so many these days, wasn't taking on NHS patients so it was a case of signing up for private treatment.  

Having moved here during the pandemic, face to face appointments with GPs were problematic but, as in so many other areas, GPs have adapted.  Telephone consultations are now the norm and we also have the option of submitting requests online.  This enables the surgery to triage patients and I'm sure it must have save time.  It's not perfect and for people who still prefer to phone for an appointment it can be frustrating - having to call at 8 am and waiting in a call queueing system is no fun.

Thankfully we haven't needed to go to the GP that often but have managed to get appointments when we've needed them or had telephone consults with follow ups where necessary.

We also have a hospital close enough if there's ever an emergency!