NHS Appointments : Good News!

[fossyant]

PS I phoned 111 after the GP practice told me to get lost. I was being dropped off at A&E when a GP called back and said go there.

I took up a bed overnight and spent over 30 hours in there (including a bed), to be then discharged home - that's a huge cost to the NHS. If it was dealt with properly then this wouldn't have happened.

 

[PK99]

But did you get an appointment with a doctor or a 'medical practioner'?

One if the 25 or so GPs in the practice.

 

[derrick]

10:45 went to local Pharmacy for Ear Wax suction. (£70)

11:15 went upstairs to Doctors' surgery reception, and reported that pharmacist had found ear infection.

Appointment booked for 12:05.

Currently in the pub across the road rather than waiting room.

We need to acknowledge good service when we receive it.

Are you talking about the Doctors or the pub.

 

[presta]

unless you wish to discuss your medical condition in public

That reminds of someone in Tesco one day who shouted across the store "Hello Dave! Have you got your test result back from the clap clinic yet?". I don't know whether he'd really spotted a mate, or he just wanted to watch everyone's reaction.

We used to (for about a year or so) be able to request an appointment by doing an online form via the practice website but they scrapped that about two years ago.
No explanation as to why they scrapped it. Presume too time consuming for triage doctor. 🙄

We used to be able to go online, pick a time slot, and book an appointment, but that all went when covid came along.

I had already been in A&E six weeks earlier. They said no break, so suspecting it might be still broken, I spoke to the GP practice as advised by my physio as we have no walk in centres up round where I live. I ended up rocking up in A&E again because the receptionist basically said 'feck off'. A&E then did another xray, nothing seen. I'd also showed physio email suspecting a hip fracture. They then decided to CT scan (bear in mind I'd been walking up and down the hospital). Then the shoot hit the fan.

When I fell over 5 years ago I went to the GP, and he told me to exercise the two fingers I'd hurt. After I went back again complaining of all the pain the exercise was causing, he sent me off with a ticket for an x-ray, and it turned out I'd spent 9 weeks exercising two broken fingers. Judging by the clicking and crunching when I rolled over in bed, I'd guess my rib was broken as well, not just bruised like the GP said.

 

[fossyant]

That reminds of someone in Tesco one day who shouted across the store "Hello Dave! Have you got your test result back from the clap clinic yet?". I don't know whether he'd really spotted a mate, or he just wanted to watch everyone's reaction.


We used to be able to go online, pick a time slot, and book an appointment, but that all went when covid came along.


When I fell over 5 years ago I went to the GP, and he told me to exercise the two fingers I'd hurt. After I went back again complaining of all the pain the exercise was causing, he sent me off with a ticket for an x-ray, and it turned out I'd spent 9 weeks exercising two broken fingers. Judging by the clicking and crunching when I rolled over in bed, I'd guess my rib was broken as well, not just bruised like the GP said.

The fact is mine was missed, and I literally could have bled to death, or suffered blood clots and died especially in that first week as I did two three hour flights and lots and lots of sat about not moving - PS the ortho team said the 'death bit'.

 

[Mrs M]

Been having hip issues for over a year.
Fallen a few times, pain and hip locking.
Finally got an x ray that showed nothing to worry about (as advised by GP’s clerical staff.
Kept nagging and finally got referred to a hip consultant
Waiting time is 62 weeks (no words) 😟

 

[Drago]

That reminds of someone in Tesco one day who shouted across the store "Hello Dave! Have you got your test result back from the clap clinic yet?". I don't know whether he'd really spotted a mate, or he just wanted to watch everyone's reaction.

Years ago I bumped into a bobby I knew in our GPs waiting room.

The very loud conversation went...

"Alright Dave. Finally getting those piles looked at?"

"Oh, hi Drago. You having another STD relapse?"

And so on. The old dear's faces were a sight to behold.

When I fell over 5 years ago I went to the GP, and he told me to exercise the two fingers I'd hurt. After I went back again complaining of all the pain the exercise was causing, he sent me off with a ticket for an x-ray, and it turned out I'd spent 9 weeks exercising two broken fingers. Judging by the clicking and crunching when I rolled over in bed, I'd guess my rib was broken as well, not just bruised like the GP said.

When I was assaulted on duty I was rushed to hospital by colleagues. I never got past the triage nurse, who told me naughtily I couldn't have possibly broken any bones as I wouldn't be able to move my arm/hand if I had.

This was grossly wrong, and thanks to her I walked about (in a lot of pain) with a broken ulna and olecranon for 4 months before my own GP manged to persuade the sods to scan me.

 

[ColinJ]

I never got past the triage nurse, who told me naughtily I couldn't have possibly broken any bones as I wouldn't be able to move my arm/hand if I had.

That brings back memories of my dad...

A similar thing happened with my dad, only it was broken fingers and thumb on his right hand. He had injured himself at work and had his hand x-rayed. The doctor looked at the x-ray and asked what he had been doing to his hand, and why was there no record of the earlier fractures? My dad said that he had never fractured any bones in his hand. The doctor showed him that the thumb and several fingers had been fractured multiple times!

It turned out to be injuries from his teens when he was a keen amateur boxer. He had caused them by hitting his opponents! (His trainer used to manipulate and tape up his fingers if they hurt after a hard fight! He never told my dad that the digits were fractured... )

 

[fossyant]

Been having hip issues for over a year.
Fallen a few times, pain and hip locking.
Finally got an x ray that showed nothing to worry about (as advised by GP’s clerical staff.
Kept nagging and finally got referred to a hip consultant
Waiting time is 62 weeks (no words) 😟

Xrays aren't much good TBH. 62 weeks though, blimey.

 

[cyberknight]

Been having hip issues for over a year.
Fallen a few times, pain and hip locking.
Finally got an x ray that showed nothing to worry about (as advised by GP’s clerical staff.
Kept nagging and finally got referred to a hip consultant
Waiting time is 62 weeks (no words) 😟

top you with 5 year we waited to see anyone about a mini ck1 issue , didnt help they closed the specialist centre in london then had to build 3 local replacements , local being 76 miles away .

 

[Drago]

Xrays aren't much good TBH. 62 weeks though, blimey.

In my case it was a year after the break before I had my first op, then 6 months later for the next. Then a 3rd of on my shoulder to release it as 2 years of not using my right arm properly had caused rotator cuff problems.

To this day I still can't get my right hand behind my back,have a relatively weak grip, can't feel my outer 2 fingers, and the elbow is constantly painful and very vulnerable to knocks as the bursa had to be removed.

And all because a triage nurse could see no physical damage and bedause I was able to move my arm and hand despite the intense pain.

I'm ought to sue, and many would, but it won't make it any better. Still, I got a very nice injury pension out of it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Been having hip issues for over a year.
Fallen a few times, pain and hip locking.
Finally got an x ray that showed nothing to worry about (as advised by GP’s clerical staff.
Kept nagging and finally got referred to a hip consultant
Waiting time is 62 weeks (no words) 😟

Hi Mrs M, ask your GP to refer you for a DEXA bone density scan.
You might have Osteoporosis, which is not picked up by just an XRay.
The waiting list for the scan is about a year, but, imo, it is worth going private.
The cure for Osteoporosis, should you have it, is only a 5 year course of meds, some supplements, and weight bearing exercises.
Probably an MRI too is required before the consultant will see you?

 

[Psamathe]

Waiting time is 62 weeks (no words) 😟

Not too bad. I saw a consultant June 2022 and he said follow-up appointment in 12 months (ie June 2023). Still waiting and no sign of any appointment that's 96 weeks and ongoing counting.

I'm still on their list as I call a couple of times each year just to check no letters gone astray and they respond "yes, your on the list and will be seen when we have appointments available".

Ian

 

[fossyant]

Hi Mrs M, ask your GP to refer you for a DEXA bone density scan.

That's effectively what my GP has been asked to do by the hospital - i.e. tests and check if I need supplements. They (the GP Practice) have ignored the request. I've paid for a private Vitamin D test through a NHS Trust, and guess what, the results are available but they haven't been sent to me - getting no response from them. Useless. Hospital have referred me for physio. I'm going private and not waiting !

The system is broken.

 

[Psamathe]

That's effectively what my GP has been asked to do by the hospital - i.e. tests and check if I need supplements. They (the GP Practice) have ignored the request.

In my experience not uncommon. Some time back my consultant prescribed a given (standard) dose of a medication, gave me a prescription for 30 days and wrote to my GP asking them to continue prescribing same. It is a cheap medication 30 days costs just £5 (medication cost, not prescription charge). GP wouldn't and would only prescribe half the dose (consultant was prescribing standard dose for recognised/listed condition). I checked with consultant and he said "half dose is a waste of time".

Another time consultant wrote to GP asking them to do a 24hr heart monitor thing. GP just ignored the resqest.

Another time Consultant wrote to GP asking for diagnostic blood tests for a number of listed infections. GP did about half of the requested tests, I pushed them to do the rest and they did another one and still not been able to get all the requested blood tests done. Managed to get one of the blood tests done privately paying self-funding.

I end-up having to take the attitude "You can only do what you can do".

Ian