Vicarious liability for receptionist’s delay

A man died of cerebral haemorrhage after his wife had made an appointment but before he was seen by his doctor. The court held that although in this specific case the receptionist (who gave the appointment) could not have been expected to recognise the need for speedy referral, vicarious liability on the part of the doctor was a theoretically possibility for any breach of duty by a receptionist to refer in a timely manner.