Skype coulda saved me

I've been making quite a few doctors' appointments lately, (just for check-ups) and most of them have been done online. Fabulous. Instead of being put on hold, and then lost when I was put through to the appointment-making person, I can look through the available slots and pick one.

Last winter, when everyone was panicking about Swine Flu our pediatricians' web site had all the latest advice, updated daily. I'm sure this was in part, because 90% of their calls were of the should I - shoudn't I? variety, but it was much appreciated all the same.

There's a great commercial on American TV with actress Ellen Paige visiting her doctor, only to be told by the receptionist that he's in Copenhagen. No matter - he can still see his patients. Watch it here.

How fabulous would that be?  Unfortunately in the USA, there's so much liability that Skypey diagnoses are unlikely, but my goodness it would be helpful on a few occasions. Like many people I've discovered the odd bump, gristly growth or dodgy looking freckle. Obviously I get straight on the phone, only to be told in most cases, that I can come in next week. While I usually know that it won't be serious, it would be a lot easier on the nerves if someone could take a look at "it" online and tell me that it's a wart on the back of my calf (lovely). I'd still have to go in and have it burnt off with that nasty liquid gas stuff, but at least the four days of waiting wouldn't be spent chewing my fingernails off and mentally distributing my jewelry.

And if my lovely vet had joined the online ranks, I could have saved everyone a lot of time and me a very red face yesterday.

My neighbour and I were chatting over a lovely glass of Pinot G the other night. She was stroking the dog, when she suddenly invited me over to "look at this". Like any mother, my stomach did a funny flippy thing - mainly because the accountant, insurance-hating Ball & Chain had just done some huge calculation and deduced that pet insurance "would cost us more in the long run".

Anyway, there was this strange growth behind her ear, (the dog's that is). She didn't flinch when I squeezed it which gave me some comfort. Then I found one behind the other ear which gave me even more comfort since "sinister" things don't tend to grow in perfect symmetry. To be honest, I might have let it go but my neighbour kept insisting that I would never forgive myself should the dog drop dead next month.

I rang the vet, sheepishly described the "things" only to be told that I would have to come in. Pah! Given that the rather gorgeous   vet barely glanced at the "things" to diagnose them, a Skypey appointment would have sufficed. At least they didn't charge me, and he did resist the urge to suggest occasional trips to the groomers to avoid -

.....matted hair balls.

How embarrassing.