I’m a little confused, too. She knew she didn’t have a car, and presumably she knew how long it would take the reach the clinic, so why did she make an appointment earlier than she could get there?
That said, I assume they saw the next patient in line earlier, rather than spending the time sitting on their thumbs, so they should have had time for the young girl.
“My daughter can’t breathe can she see the doctor?”
“We have an opening in 20 minutes at 3:15.”
“Ok, I will take it. I may be a few minutes late because I don’t have a car.”
“Well then I’m afraid your daughter will have to die.”
Or they may have been inundated with flu patients, double booked.
Did you miss where she was 5 minutes late? 5 minutes. I doubt this was an appointment made much ahead of time. It was likely one made when a parent calls up and asks “How soon can you see L, she is sick.” If the mother had a long standing relationship with the clinic I can understand her wanting to go there rather than to casualty (I think that is ER in GB). Also the ER may have not been within walking distance.
But considering the child’s medical history for her not to be seen with the complaint of coughing, shortness of breath, and other symptoms typical of bronchitis was a very wrong call.
I presume she called, said the kid was sick, they said “We have an opening at 2:40, she said “I’ll come right away, but might be a few minutes late” , they said “OK”, but then turned her away.
That is of course speculation.