A cautionary tale about 'piggyback' patients

All GPs have had to provide care at unexpected times and in difficult situations. 

And all of us, no doubt, have experienced the ‘piggyback’ consult, where a booked patient will bring a partner/ friend/ or relative with them, who, little beknown to us, is actually there for a consult too.

Having a new patient suddenly sprung on you in a time-pressured day can be annoying and makes me, for one, mildly anxious. 

However, it’s very difficult to turn someone, who’s sitting right in front of you, away.