Jane Bates: Nanny knows best

Jane Bates argues the case for a bit more nannying

The patient presented at our clinic with a rip-roaring eye infection, ten days post-surgery. ‘Can I have some antibiotics?’ he asked.

There was something not quite right here. ‘Didn’t we give you antibiotic drops after your operation?’ I asked, knowing full well that we had. ‘To prevent infection?’

He attempted a devil-may-care wink, but it was too painful. ‘Oh yes, he said, ‘but I didn’t use them. I’m a man,' he explained, with a twinkle in the eye that was still functioning. ‘You know what we men are like. We just don’t play by the rules.’

Okay, Dirty Harry

A Dirty Harry attitude is hard to maintain when a part of your body is red, sore and weeping pus, so we let that one go. Okay – we