I just ranted about the NHS direct phone line, and in the same review raved about the walk-in-centres.

A walk-in-centre is like a drop in medical surgery where you can wait to see a nurse without making an appointment. They are open out of doctors surgeries hours until 9pm on the evening.

After getting little help from the phoneline, I decided yesterday to take my poorly 2 year old to our local Walk-in-centre. It was on our way home and only a 5 minute drive from our house so is almost as convinient as the phoneline for us.

On arrival, the receptioist takes basic details of the patients name, DOB and address along with a summary of what is wrong. You are then asked to take a seat. Some times are busier than others. I have previously waited anything form 10 minutes to well over an hour to see someone. Yesterday the wait was about half an hour.

When we were called, we were taken into a small but well equipt room similar to one you'd find at any doctors surgery. The nurse was very friendly and thourough. She began by taking my sons temperature which was 39.1 degrees. Next she examined his ears and his throat (with difficult due to my uncooperative toddler) and still she remained patient and kind to us all. After listening to my sons chest she gave him some nurofen to bring his temperature down. We were shown to another small room and given toys for him to play with. The nurse also asked if we could get a urine sample from our son to rule out a urine infection.

After half an hour and a few quick checks on us, the nurse returned and took his temperature again (a much improved 38.2 degrees) and with advise and 2 bottles of medicine we left.

The visit with the nurse put my mind at ease and made me feel much more confident at monitoring him through the night. I felt better to know that his urine, chest, throat and ears were all ok and felt that if anything serious had been wrong the nurse was so thourough she would have noticed.

I actually much prefer the walk-in-center to my own doctor and will be using the service again if nessisary. I might have been lucky with the nurse my son saw but I would definately recommend this quick and efficient service.