Gah! Both my Nans (In Newham by the way) would never go to the doctor for anything. My mum would have to make an appointment herself, then go round and just pick her up and take her there. For old people the only thing worse than going to the doctors would be wasting the doctors time. Oh the horror! What would people think if they knew my Nan was going to waste a doctors time? It always worked! So go ahead and make an appointment. You may have been the RRU that went round to her after her stroke, she's in Forest Gate/Upton Park. She had nothing but great service from all the paramedics and whatnots. But Bow Hospital was not the nicest places to spend your last month - I did see a lot of incompetance. Always a pleasure to read your blog.