Episode 3: A Life-Saving Referral

Setting: Dr. Needles’ Practice

Characters:

• Mr. Pillsworth: A seasoned and caring pharmacist.
• Dr. Needles: A knowledgeable and empathetic general practitioner.
• Mrs. Thompson: An elderly female patient.
• Receptionist: A friendly and efficient staff member at Dr. Needles’ practice.

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Receptionist: (answering the phone) Good morning, Dr. Needles’ practice. How can I help you?

Mrs. Thompson: (on the phone, sounding worried) Good morning, dear. It’s Mrs. Thompson. I think I have another urinary tract infection. It’s so uncomfortable.

Receptionist: I’m sorry to hear that, Mrs. Thompson. You know, we have the Pharmacy First service for UTIs. You can see Mr. Pillsworth at the pharmacy. He can assess your symptoms and provide treatment. If necessary, he’ll refer you back to us.

Mrs. Thompson: Oh, that’s a good idea. I’ll head over there right away. Thank you, dear.

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Setting: Mr. Pillsworth’s Pharmacy

Mr. Pillsworth: (welcoming Mrs. Thompson) Good morning, Mrs. Thompson. I hear you’re not feeling well. What seems to be the problem?

Mrs. Thompson: (sitting down) Good morning, Mr. Pillsworth. I think I have a urinary tract infection again. It’s so painful and I feel like I need to use the bathroom all the time.

Mr. Pillsworth: I’m sorry to hear that. Let’s go through your symptoms and see what we can do to help. Have you noticed any other symptoms? Fever, back pain, or anything unusual?

Mrs. Thompson: (pausing) Well, now that you mention it, I’ve been feeling very tired lately. And there’s a dull pain in my lower back that hasn’t gone away.

Mr. Pillsworth: (concerned) That doesn’t sound like a typical UTI. I think it would be best if you saw Dr. Needles. I’ll call his practice and arrange for you to be seen today.

Mrs. Thompson: Thank you, Mr. Pillsworth. I trust your judgment.

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Setting: Dr. Needles’ Practice

Receptionist: (on the phone) Dr. Needles, Mr. Pillsworth is on the line. He has a patient who needs urgent attention.

Dr. Needles: (taking the call) Hello, Mr. Pillsworth. What’s the situation?

Mr. Pillsworth: Good morning, Dr. Needles. I have Mrs. Thompson here. She came in thinking she had a UTI, but her symptoms suggest something more serious. She’s very tired and has a persistent dull back pain. I think she needs further investigation.

Dr. Needles: Thank you for the thorough assessment, Mr. Pillsworth. Please send her over immediately. I’ll see her as soon as she arrives.

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Setting: Dr. Needles’ Examination Room

Dr. Needles: (gently examining Mrs. Thompson) Mrs. Thompson, we’ll run some tests to see what’s causing your symptoms. Your back pain and fatigue are concerning, and we need to rule out anything serious.

Mrs. Thompson: Thank you, Dr. Needles. I’m a bit worried.

Dr. Needles: (reassuringly) We’re going to take good care of you. I’ll arrange for you to be admitted to the hospital for some scans and tests.

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Setting: Hospital

Radiologist: (reviewing scan results with Dr. Needles) Dr. Needles, the scans have revealed a slowly developing tumor in Mrs. Thompson’s kidney. It’s fortunate we caught it early.

Dr. Needles: (relieved) Thank you for the quick work. This explains her symptoms. We’ll arrange for her to see an oncologist immediately.

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Setting: Dr. Needles’ Practice, a Few Days Later

Mrs. Thompson: (smiling, with family members) Dr. Needles, thank you for everything. The oncologist said the tumor was caught just in time. They’re confident about my treatment plan.

Dr. Needles: (smiling) I’m so glad to hear that, Mrs. Thompson. Credit also goes to Mr. Pillsworth for his keen observations.

Mrs. Thompson: (gratefully) Thank you both. You saved my life.

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Epilogue

In this episode, a routine visit to Mr. Pillsworth’s pharmacy under the Pharmacy First service led to a critical referral to Dr. Needles. Thanks to their diligent care and quick action, Mrs. Thompson’s life was saved. The collaboration between pharmacist and GP ensured that a potentially life-threatening condition was identified and treated promptly.

Check out the other episodes here.