Consultation

[pottypete1]

I have a telephone consultation this afternoon.

That should be enlightening for the Consultant. 😜

Pete

[pottypete1]

Just had the call.

Because of pressures at the hospital it was one of my EP's registrars and not my EP for the first time in years.

The registrar was kind enough but knew very little about my case.

It was basically a waste of time as I suspected it would be.

Got a face to face appointment in December now.

Hey ho.

Getting older so probably got better things to do than worry about me now that I am more stable.

Pete

[bantam12 in reply to pottypete1]

These phone calls with random docs are such a waste of time, not there fault but when they don't know the history or haven't the time to wade through it then it really is pointless.I've not spoken to my Cardio for well over a year, every call is from someone different and even worse when they all have their own ideas.

Had a call from a vascular surgeon last week about my splenic aneurysm, he hadn't read my notes or even looked at the scans 🤷‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[pottypete1 in reply to bantam12]

Exactly my point.

Whilst I realise that they are all very busy it is nothing more than a tick box exercise which achieves nothing.

The registrar would be better employed elsewhere I am sure.

Sadly our lovely NHS is in a pickle and I cannot see significant improvements for years now.

Pete

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to pottypete1]

Pressures at the hospital, I thought that had ended? Are you in one of the bad Indian variant areas? I'm guessing you've had your two covid jabs? I'm getting cross on your behalf. As you say, it sounds like the telephone call was just a tick box exercise.

Jean

[pottypete1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

No jean not one of the bad areas for Covid-19 (although getting worse again but being the centre for Cardiology in the South I guess they are under severe pressure to catch up.

My grandson was in the hospital for 3 months throughout the worst days of the Pandemic with Pancreatitis. On more than one occasion they discovered COVID-19 in his acute surgical ward.

The hospital saved his life with a major operation so my family are really grateful having also experienced the worst time imaginable in the past months.

I think maybe I should not complain as the cardiology team at the same hospital have been responsible for my significant if not perfect improvement to my quality of life now. However I still think the phone call was an absolute waste of time.

Yes I have had both doses of the vaccine.

Pete

[bantam12 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I've been told by at least two of my consultants that phone calls are going to be the way clinics work for the foreseeable future as it frees up clinic face to face appts for the worst cases. I don't mind when it's an annual catch up and I have no issues but it's not ideal being reviewed by some random doc who has no clue who I am, It reduces us to a faceless hospital number 😕

[Coco51 in reply to pottypete1]

I wonder if December appointment will really be in person. My last 2 were changed to phone. Like you I am more stable but still get troubling episodes. I would like to stay in touch in case I try to go for a third ablation. Yet after the last telephone appointment doctor tried to discharge me!

[secondtry]

For the last 6 years I have paid privately for my annual review. The advantage is you get the same person and hopefully you can build up a relationship that allows you to discuss issues of concern without being shut down. The downside is the notes may still not be reviewed, so you have to drop in reminders! Enjoy today!

[Coco51 in reply to secondtry]

Good idea. Money well spent. I may resort to that!

[Coco51]

I was told that the consultant reviews notes in a meeting with "the team" before outpatient clinic appointments on the phone. But sometimes it seems they hardly remember. It isn't great when you don't get any tests for underlying problems - like a simple ECG and BP check, which is routine on a face to face visit. Seems sloppy. But I fear it's the shape of things to come.

[Outtheresinger]

My ablation was in March 2020 just before the first lockdown. Since then I have not had a face to face consultation with my Consultant, the cardiac nurses or my GP. I have not had my BP checked or an ECG carried out. I have a BP monitor and a Kardia so I can check myself but my doctors don’t t know that!