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.
Look, I didn’t say the doctor did the right thing, just that the sequence seemed a little strange to me.