....think I am part of an old fashioned farce....!

[Ktomoph_]

I have in the past mentioned my GP and many of you have recommended changing GP. I finally did, but thought at the time it would be fine to stay within same practice.

Recent odd things have made me wonder.....

On 15th realised that I had not been booked for monthly blood test, called surgery at 5pm, just before closing. Was told they would look into it and get back to me.

On 16th at 5.30pm, received a call from surgery telling me that I had missed my blood test at 9.20am that morning. I said that I did not have a blood test booked, and asked when it was booked. Booked on 15th! I asked why no-one thought to contact me.......

On 17th at around 2pm, received a call from surgery telling me that I had cancelled blood tests for past 3 months!

Looked through diary. No I hadn't. Called surgery and gave dates of blood tests that I had booked myself. And those ones that had been cancelled by the surgery. I also requested results of blood test done in October.

Was assured that these would be sent that day first class post.

On 18th received 2 envelopes, each date stamped 17th. One was blood results,.........the other stated it was typed on 15th, informing me that I had a blood test 16th 9.20am, and posted on 17th.....!

Whilst on the phone on 16th, I had booked blood test for 4th December 8.50 - only slot available.

Today I received a call from surgery to say that the nurse would not be there, would I like to change it to 9.30? I looked at diary and asked when else is available? Answer was that the nurse that I prefer is not really doing bloods anymore. I said Oh dear....thats a bit of a problem.....

She said, can you hold the line......she came on and said we can fit you into the asthma clinic.

I asked if the nurse I preferred ran this, and would she mind actually having to do bloods?

She said, yes its fine but we have to change the time. Can you make it for 5 to 9?

.....I said....do you mean 8.55am on 4 December....?

She said....yes.......

[Hidden]

Ha! The kind of scenario which makes you want to sit somewhere quiet and wonder if you've gone bonkers!

[Ktomoph_ in reply to Hidden]

.....I did....and its taken me till now to actually realise...its not me!!

[gragsdellforme in reply to Ktomoph_]

Welcome to the world of modern medicine. It is not you. It is them !!

[jeanjeannie50]

That really does sound like a farce! It's not very reassuring that you're being looked after by your surgery is it.

Let's see what happens on the 4th December.

Jean

[Ktomoph_ in reply to jeanjeannie50]

..thanks Jean...will keep you updated....!

[Buffafly]

Did you say the practice manager was called Manuel?.......

[Ktomoph_ in reply to Buffafly]

...hahah....yes!...

[Hidden]

Well I suppose it’s not funny as it’s your health at stake, but reading your story has made my evening.

Please don’t change surgery. Instead give us a regular update 😀

[Ktomoph_ in reply to Hidden]

....gosh...!....actually had not realised that I really am living in the farce and that it may be helping others with its unintentional humour! thanks Koll! will do!

[wilsond]

You could not make this up!!dear me!

[Ktomoph_ in reply to wilsond]

....this is comforting to hear! thought it was just me....

[CaroleF]

Speechless, but laughing all the same! (Sorry) What a shambles. Maybe a letter to the Practice Manager giving all the details of this c*** up would be in order?

[Ktomoph_ in reply to CaroleF]

....oh....but if this were a series that comes into it too....maybe it should be next episode..

[CaroleF in reply to Ktomoph_]

Looking forward to Episode 2! Do keep us all posted on this farce.

[Jenbo6]

Sit in a quiet room with a blanket over your head!!

[Hidden]

As Readers Digest would say - 'Laughter..its the best medicine'. Have a good laugh, then find another practice.

Doctors are notorious for supporting and covering for each other, so maybe you're being punished (though I always suspect conspiracy when it's usually just cock up or simple incompetence). Good luck.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to Hidden]

....you have no idea how true your words are!

[CDreamer]

Very poor admin! And an amusing story.

Seems to be quite common, unfortunatey. I doubt the GPs are even aware if it.

Maybe write a letter to the Practice Manager? They have to take note and are supposed to address issues made in writing whilst they can ignore verbal complaints.

[littlefatartybird]

That really made me laugh out loud. But I have to say I find the health service in general to be less efficient than I had imagined. I hate to criticise it but I recently sat listening to a stream of people attempt to check-in at the local cardiology unit (as instructed in the letters we had all received) and all were told to walk back to near the lift and use the electronic checking in system. When I asked why the letter didn't say this I was told it was 'down to IT'. My suggestion that they tell IT to change the letter was met with hostility like something out of a 1960's comedy. I was told they didn't have time and it wasn't their job! Yet they must spend hours each day redirecting people! Crazy!!

[Ktomoph_ in reply to littlefatartybird]

....think that we may have been at the same hospital!!

[teach2learn in reply to littlefatartybird]

This all sounds like typical bureaucracy. That's government for you. Bernie Sanders and a lot if others in the U.S. think it's the solution to our health care crisis, but I've never seen federal government programs run anything with efficiency and true competence. I'm sure there are individual pockets of exceptions, but the really good and competent workers eventually give up and move on.

[Diamonddaisy]

Words fail me! But.... I'm not surprised either, with my health mums and daughters, I'm constantly at one of 2drs surgeries, 3hospitals, all of then display and unbelievable amount of incompetence regularly. I get so frustrated, I trained as a nurse and am often speechless. I see stuff that if it was back when I was there would be accountable to a matron who put the fear of God in doctors let alone nurses. Thinks are so lax it drives me mad.

I did smile at how you have portrait the whole scenario xx

[gragsdellforme]

I was a nurse for 50 years. Back in the day if you made a mess like this you would be out of a job.

[Diamonddaisy in reply to gragsdellforme]

Exactly

[Jeanette49]

Many years ago, my practice which has its own dispensary gave me Tramadol instead of Trazadone which I took to help with sleep issues...exactly the same thing happened a few months later. When I went to take one (at bedtime, as I was completely out of my previous prescription) I noticed the pack wasn’t the same, and thought it was just a different brand name, went to take it, but then decided to check the name on the internet just to make sure, discovered they were very strong painkillers. I hadn’t noticed the different name before as I had left them in the paper bag, and hadn’t looked inside...I phoned the surgery...10 pm on a Saturday...the Doc had to come and open up to get the right ones for me! Twice it happened...no apology either time! These meds might have been taken by an elderly person who didn’t have the wherewithal to question them and could have had a serious reaction to them!!

Disgraceful!! 😡

[Diamonddaisy in reply to Jeanette49]

Shocking , but sadly, it im not surprised

[Buffafly in reply to Jeanette49]

And become addicted as Tramadol is related to morphine.....

[Ktomoph_]

....I have a feeling that if I raise this at the surgery that things will only get worse....think thats why I posted it on here rather than call the surgery.....

[Diamonddaisy in reply to Ktomoph_]

It's bad that you feel that way. Could you contact PALS for advice. I had a very bad orthopaedic registrar a few years ago who reduced me to tears. My complaint was upheld, and was told this doctor was going to be put on courses to learn how to interact with patients in a better manner!!! A result but I felt it warranted more. Also a friend who is deaf and has specialist hearing aids and cares for his wife was told a 12month wait. Told him to ring back and say he was going to contact PALS, got a call 4days later offering an appointment for fitting new ones

don't put up with it. Could be someone's life, they need to step up!

[Ktomoph_ in reply to Diamonddaisy]

you are so right.....I hover and procrastinate....but realise that it does have to be dealt with....

.....think that they know we are weak willed when we are ill, especially with serious conditions, and take it for granted that we do not have the energy to complain...

[littlefatartybird in reply to Ktomoph_]

I think we all need to be firm but polite or take someone with us when we dont feel up to a fight. However, the staff at these places are so sensitive that they can get quite upset if you question them. There is a sign in our Doctors surgery which says 'please be nice to our receptionists - they make a difficult job look easy' and I am thinking of running a competition for the best retort...so far I have come up with

a. No! Splitting the atom is a difficult job

b. Going down a coal-mine is a difficult job

c. Finding a cure for cancer is a difficlt job

You get the idea.....sorry to waste all of your time but a bit of levity never hurt I feel.

[Ktomoph_ in reply to littlefatartybird]

....great!.....am wrapped up in the process of writing to the practice....probably making an easy job very difficult...but nonetheless attempting it. Cant wait to add to your list!!