Eating humble pie ...............

Hi all,

As many of you know I've been, and continue to be, very critical of my GP surgery in the context of the post CoVid NHS.

This afternoon, right out of the blue - with no initiation or pushing or triggering from me my Surgery reception phoned and invited me to attend an ECG. After this I'll be invited then to attend ( on a different and a further future date) an Echo.

Mrs CarnEuny went ballistic as she thought I had a problem and wasn't telling her. Bless 😂. I am very well, have no problems, HR - fine, BP - fine, Kardia ECG readings - NSR feeling just normal but very cold on a day like to day.

Whilst I'm quite chuffed at this unsolicited attention I'd like to ask the gallery ...... has anyone else had such unsolicited attention recently. My annual blood tests were on 5 September but the nurse said I'd hear from my GP if anything was amiss. Never heard from anyone. Just wondering if this could be blood test related in some weird way.

Thanks.

John

[BobD Volunteer]

No but I received an unsolicited form for a 7 day BP check the like of which I normally do around the month of my birth (March).

[wilsond]

I had an unsolicited voicemail recently inviting me to go for a blood test,so they can ' monitor my anticoagulation' hmm.....had blood tests in March. Methinks its a plot to try to get me onto a cheaper drug. No chance thank you! Havent responded.

Well a bit of a turn up for the books but a good chance for heart MOT!!

[dedeottie in reply to wilsond]

Me too. Just got the letter and thought the same as you. I am going to have the blood test as it should be done if you are on apixaban but am NOT changing to a cheaper one! Do we have the right to refuse to change though? X

[wilsond in reply to dedeottie]

Someone on here refused to change except on medical grounds and said only if told to by EP. I had a full blood test in March this year so am a but suspicious ,like you! Xx

[Singwell in reply to wilsond]

This is routine - they're supposed to do it each year. They'll probably ask you lots if questions too. I had one last year.

[Lupaal in reply to Singwell]

I have never been offered a blood test to check, didbt realise it was a thing. What are they checking for?

[Singwell in reply to Lupaal]

Platelets re anticoagulants and if you're on heavier duty anti arrhythmics checking for toxicity in the liver. Supposed to be routine...

[Lupaal in reply to Singwell]

Dont get these tests, our surgery can be useless.

[Singwell]

My recent echocardiogram was unsolicited. They're trying to clear the decks is my opinion. A new thing at my GP - COVID clinic and screens in waiting area. Tells us something i think.

[CDreamer]

My husband went yesterday for unsolicited echocardiogram. GP surgeries seem to be setting up more regular testing on all sorts of things now - not before time.

[Hylda2]

Blimey. Had to tell my surgery I’d had pacemaker fitted as nothing at all on my notes!!

[Barb1 in reply to Hylda2]

That is truly frightening!

[Hylda2 in reply to Barb1]

They have had various e-mails and letters. God help us when it gets to the ablate

[Barb1 in reply to Hylda2]

During a recent GP phone apt, after I had hurt my shoulder, he asked me why I wasn't taking Ibuprofen for the pain?!

[Hylda2 in reply to Barb1]

had to tell one of ours wrong statin. She did apologise

[mobradley]

I am called for blood tests every 3 months to check my apaxiban effects. The GP service say its routine. I can read my results on my record online. No attempt to make me change meds. Evidently they have to check the effect on kidneys and liver. Nothing suspicious about it

Mb

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to mobradley]

I was called for tests when I first started apixaban and dronedarone. (Glad to be off the dronedarone now as it did affect my liver enzymes and didn’t do much for the AF anyway.) I think it’s going to be February before the next test for apixaban now, but yes they do need to check for kidney and liver function.

[wilsond in reply to mobradley]

Cor! Every 3 months? Thats good service. I have only ever had annual tests since I began on apixaban in 2017

Also,only had them because I knew I should be tested and always booked up myself. Huh! Variations in GP care are a concern across the country

[bantam12]

My surgery doesn’t call me for anything, I should have an annual blood test for another condition and an annual CT, I have to make it happen and then jump through hoops to get the results !

Haven’t been called for Flu jab as usual, it was up to me to call them this time.

Never get called for ECG, BP or anything else.

I’ve been with my surgery for 30 years and been very happy but recently it’s become a joke, except it’s not funny when we have multiple health problems to cope with 🤦🏻‍♀️

[wilsond]

Thats same for me Bantam!

[Thomas45]

I have both the NHS app and the Airmid app so can look at my medical record online. Unfortunately my GP surgery seems to have forgotten why I take Doxazosin. While I have annual blood tests someone has assumed I take that drug for high blood pressure. I don't. I take it for enlarged prostate. I'm called in for an annual blood pressure review and blood tests. I was A1 for blood pressure.

My last blood test showed I was pre-diabetic so I now attend a course on avoiding diabetes. It's a very good course.

But as for my PSA (Prostate) result they didn't do that test. I was told by a nurse that I couldnt ask for a PSA blood test. We shall see. I find that a letter to the surgery is better than a phone call, so that's today's main job, once my weekly groceries have been delivered.

[Alan1947 in reply to Thomas45]

Apart from prescription requests our surgery doesn’t respond to letters. I think they go in the bin !

[Thomas45 in reply to Alan1947]

Mine always reply.

[bassets in reply to Thomas45]

my husband is called for a PSA test as routine - surely you can ask for this?

[Shemac52]

Same here had a call from surgery to have a blood test as on Apixban and they will do the same day as flu jab. 1st time they have ever called to book a blood test for this reason.