If there is one story which encapsulates the distress of families as GPs remain behind closed doors during this pandemic, then this is it. And to health chiefs who continue to insist patients should only be seen face-to-face where absolutely necessary, it should serve as a warning shot: to open up ALL surgeries again, or risk many more families being devastated, just like this… It was October last year, before the second wave of the pandemic had taken hold, when Elaine Gordon contacted her GP practice in the North West. Fit and healthy, and in her mid-50s, Elaine rarely bothered her doctor.