The essence remains unchanged

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7441.691

BMJ 2004;328:691 (20 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7441.691

Filler

The essence remains unchanged

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A recent Filler describing the author's childhood in a medicalfamily prompted memories of my own. My parents had a joint practicein Kirkby, an industrial estate near Liverpool once famouslydescribed as "the septic tank of the North." Until I was 11years old we lived next door to the surgery, which was purposebuilt although rather unfit for its function.

A row of heavy filing cabinets separated the receptionists'"office" from the waiting area: this tiny stolen space alsodoubled as the nurses' treatment room. My mother's room—sharedwith a desk, examination couch, and a large cupboard full ofmedical samples, equipment, and lollipops—was so smallthat she had to move the chair out every time she wanted toleave.

Several times a week, my father would be called out of surgeryto chase the boys stealing lead off the flat roof. Everythingthat was movable disappeared and . . . [Full text of this article]

Helen Ruth Offman, general practitioners

Kupat Cholim Clallit, Bet Shemesh, Israel