Anyone else feel like the NHS almost doesn't exist for them any more?

[brogdale]

Another thing struck me the other day after I’d had a post-op follow- up appt. with my consultant. Yet again I received a copy of his letter to my “GP”; it was addressed to a named individual who I have never heard of or met, nor am I ever likely to, presumably the “ boss” of the contracted business? When I had a much earlier op I remember my, then, family GP talked me through the post-op care etc. he was coordinating; these days zilch. These excellent letters from secondary healthcare professionals just seem to be going into the void of an uncaring business unit.

 

[haushoch]

Last year I was diagnosed with a condition by a haematologist consultant which needs monitoring via 6 monthly blood tests. As far as the haematologist is concerned this is now the responsibility of my surgery. When the first blood test was due, I found out that my GP surgery hasn’t been commissioned to monitor the condition, so now no-one is monitoring. I contacted other surgeries, and they don’t monitor the condition either. I’ve now had to raise a complaint with the integrated care board who told me it will most likely take 1-2 years to resolve this. In the meantime they’re also trying to organise the blood tests, but can’t tell me when this will happen. Before I raised the complaint I was stuck between the two services (haematology and the GP) both saying it’s the other one who should monitor and not them. Then they both told me to raise the complaint. This whole experience has been really upsetting. Funnily enough the haematologist offers the blood tests privately…

 

[LakieLady]

I encountered a new ( to me ) deterioration in my GP service when, on Friday evening I tried to make an email request for a simple repeat prescription. I used to just ring through to the pharmacy but they’ve stopped offering that service. Turns out that the GPS won’t accept online repeat requests outside 8 - 5, M - F. These fucking businesses really are offering the barest of bare minimum service.

That is just bonkers. What difference does it make to them whether they get a load of requests first thing in the morning or if the same number arrive between 8 & 5?

At least my surgery let you order them whenever you like. And it's the one bit of their online system that actually works well: all your regular meds are listed, you just tick what you need and select which pharmacy you want to collect them from. They say to allow 3 days, but they're often done the same day.

 

[brogdale]

That is just bonkers. What difference does it make to them whether they get a load of requests first thing in the morning or if the same number arrive between 8 & 5?

At least my surgery let you order them whenever you likes. And it's the one bit of their online system that actually works well: all your regular meds are listed, you just tick what you need and select which pharmacy you want to collect them from. They say to allow 3 days, but they're often done the same day.

Yeah, from the patient's perspective, it is utterly bonkers; making people move to online interaction and then removing one of the few benefits of that mode. But from the business's perspective, I'm figuring that on a few occasions they had to employ more man-hours to wade through the Monday requests and, of course, that eats into their 'profit' to be shared amongst the partners.

 

[ElizabethofYork]

My 87 year old mum was taken to hospital by ambulance last night with severe dehydration after a horrid bout of sickness and diarrhoea. She's still in the waiting area, and hasn't even seen a doctor yet. My sister asked a nurse if it was possible to get a more comfortable chair for mum after a few hours, and one was found for her at about 7 00 this morning, which was a relief after the hard uncomfortable chair she'd had until then. There are people all over the corridor, and there were quite a lot sleeping on the floor last night.

 

[Sue]

That's terrible, ElizabethofYork. I hope she's seen and made more comfortable soon. Ffs though.

 

[ElizabethofYork]

That's terrible, ElizabethofYork. I hope she's seen and made more comfortable soon. Ffs though.

Still waiting in the corridor.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Phoned to chase an audiology appointment - no indications on when this is going to happen.

Its been 4 months and counting, the receptionist could not have been less helpful albeit not much help to give.

 

[mentalchik]

Have been off work for 5 months now.....i hate to criticise the NHS but can't help but wonder that if the GP service had not been so incompetent at the beginning and i had started my physio earlier i might be back at work by now......the GP told me there was nothing on my MRI and that it was clear....physio spotted the problem straight away so if back then i had't cried and demanded i don't know where i'd be.

 

[brogdale]

So, nothing compared to ElizabethofYork 's dreadful experience, but today I had to interact with my GP business. I dropped a repeat prescription note into the health centre having added written requests for 2 each of my asthma inhalers, (blue & brown). Seeing that there was no-one queueing at the reception desk for my practice I told the receptionist that I had added the hand-written requests for the 2 inhalers rather than the recent default to one. I explained that I had always been advised by GPs and asthma nurses to have 2 to reduce the risk of leaving the house without one. She couldn't have been less helpful of more contemptuous saying that this level of single prescribing was now the only one allowed by the NHS and, if I had a problem with this, the only option was to ring (not email) the prescribing team, which I did immediately. Guy answering was nice as pie, said that moving me to default of 2 inhalers was no problem. So, a result, but only after being lied to by reception.