So, Luis Suarez. Man with a severe anger management issue or just someone who gets particularly peckish mid-match? Discuss.
We did, this morning, over coffee. And it made a nice change from wondering whether we’ll survive AQP or trying to establish what co-commissioning actually means.
The thing that got us all really agitated, though, was the consensus from assorted football pundits filling the morning’s radiowaves that what Luis Suarez needs is a good dose of counselling.
Ah, yes, of course. Because that’s the answer to everything, isn’t it? Which was why listening to ex-footballers cod-psychologising was reminiscent of so many consultations. There is, according to punters and their nearest and dearest, no emotional reaction so trivial, proportionate or downright normal that it couldn’t be soothed by an urgent referral to the local counselling service. Which seems odd given the whopping great DNA rate that results.
And as for Anger Management: I really have to count to 10 over this one. Look, I want to say, this is your problem, it’s in your control, and I don’t see why we should be transferring the responsibility of what you do/say to someone else. But I don’t, because experience tells me that it’s easier to fill out the form.
My consternation comes through, though. As the wife of my last patient said, ‘Don’t look so worried, doc. He may get mad but he doesn’t bite.’ Well, I wouldn’t be so sure of that.
Dr Tony Copperfield is a GP in Essex. You follow him on Twitter @DocCopperfield.
