NHS Consultants - are their salaries justified?

Seven weeks ago, I had a total hip replacement (Exeter cemented). No complaints- the new hip works well, all the arthritic pain has gone and I can walk half a mile on one crutch.

Today I went for my post-op consultation (travelling 16 miles each way by taxi at a cost of £55).

The Consultant (a different one to the person who did the op) was running one hour late. I saw him for three minutes, he had a look at the scar, watched me walk, told me not to go back to work for 3 months and to '"be careful"

Is this all I get? My GP could have done this. I had no opportunity to ask questions.

Do any of the rest of you have experiences of this ilk to recount? I'm now having to surf the net to see what I am allowed/not allowed to do, and for how long!