A frustrated elderly patient

Having asked 8 times about an Asthma Review that should be every year. Has anyone any idea what I can do to get what I need. or how to complain and report the doctors surgery group business..

[Bevvy]

Can’t you just book a review with asthma nurse? Certainly can at my surgery, although they are good at texting me to say review is now due. Indeed some doctors surgeries may stop medications if don’t attend reviews!

I think first port of call if unable to book directly then ask to speak to practice manager and arrange through them.

[Hidden in reply to Bevvy]

Thank you Bevvy. We cannot make an appointment with the GP on our computer now - we used to be able to. I have tried to find out who the Practice Manager is but the staff have all such titles that I do not know who to approach as the title Practice Manager is not listed in the staff in our group of practices. I have received today from Head Office of the group an Asthma charity control form to c complete and return to my surgery. Why I do not know then in the letter is says they will make an appointment for a review. I will have to wait and see. I cannot walk far and it is making me feel quite frustrated.

Best wishes. Kathleen (Mrs Pankhurst)

[Bevvy in reply to Hidden]

Hope the form does the trick. I also can no longer book appointments on line but now ring gp surgery and book appointments that way. Certainly if you get no joy with the form, I would simply phone the surgery and ask for an application. Also I would think a simple phone call would give you practice managers name. Hope you are successful soon.

[VELoce21 in reply to Hidden]

good morning Mrs Pankhurst. I have an annual review at my GP practice. I would suggest that you phone them to request an asthma review

[Katinka46]

Welcome to this forum. It is very friendly and supportive. I am surprised you are struggling to get an asthma review. How about a letter to the practice manager? Some people can email them. Set out your frustration as clearly and as politely as you can. Save your anger for the next step! Do you have an approachable GP? That might be another route.

All the best

K x

[Hidden in reply to Katinka46]

Thank you Katinka46. We used to be able to make an appointment to see our GP on the computer but now that has stopped. I have tried to find out who the practice manager is but the staff all have such fanciful titles and practice manager is not mentioned so no idea who that is. I have today received from the Group Head office an Asthma Charity form to fill in about a control test. They say when I return it to the surgery an appointment will then be made for a review. We will see.

Best wishes. Mrs Pankhurst (Kathleen)

[6hortensia]

had the same trouble had to persist to see the duy manger at the gp and then write 2 more letters, finally have appointment in march.

[B0xermad]

try an econsult request for admin and you should get a reply back to book

[bwp91]

This is surprising as practices get money from doing asthma reviews, however perfunctory. Is there a complaints procedure described on the website? If not you could phone to ask about it. That should get them moving! If not, I guess you’ve got to go higher e,g, to your Primary Care Network. Good luck,

[PaulineHM]

Well Mrspankhurst, I think you should tie yourself to the surgery ‘railings’ and take a big placard with you demanding an Asthma review! Hahaaahaaaa.

Seriously, ie the complaint form which is likely on the surgery website, or drop line to the practice manager (you don’t need a name ) and pop it into the surgery.

Good luck.

Pauline

[JJ_7]

If everything fails, I would be tempted to report a fake "asthma attack" (I have had a number of real asthma attacks). Tell them your medication did not have great effect and book a GP appointment for new medication request. The appointment booked would be classed as an asthma review.

I am so sorry to hear of this run around you are having and it is just not right.

[LilsM]

I totally understand how difficult it is to get suitable care nowadays from your GP surgery .

I also hadn't had an asthma review for nearly three years despite asking several times and being told 'we are not doing them at the moment'. When I insisted, saying that my asthma was not properly controlled I was given an appointment. But the nurse I saw insisted that my symptoms were because it was an extremely hot day even though I said that hot dry weather didn't affect me in that way, and that I had been having increased symptoms over several weeks. She recommended no change in my medication and she was sure that I would feel better when the weather was normal. At this point I have to say that pre 2020 all the asthma nurses that I had seen were so knowledgeable and helpful.

So I rang the surgery and asked for an appointment with my own GP, explaining that I wasn't happy with the review and I was offered a face to face appointment. She was very helpful, changed my inhaler to a stronger one and back to a 'puffer' that I can use with a spacer as we both agreed that the powder inhaler was causing some irritation. She also prescribed montelukast to be taken at night. I am due another appointment to discuss how it is going in two weeks time.

I think it was all helping, certainly with the non powder inhaler but I got covid 10 daysago. I am now testing negative but it has left me with a tight chest and increased cough. Hopefully this will improve soon.

I hope you resolve this soon. It is very difficult now to get good care unless you are a naturally insistent person which I am not.

[Gardeningdays]

My last review was written up whilst I was in hospital and unable to attend, it what wholly inaccurate. I am under the hospital team as well as GP asthma team so was not too concerned. I will be making sure it’s corrected next year.

[Mavary]

I had an appointment with an Asthma nurse just this week. She wasn’t one from our practice. I’ve really had trouble with getting my usual inhalers I ended up having an Aspergillosis attack for seven weeks. They’ve tried to kid me by say Lubfrobec at 100/6 is the same as my Fostair at 200/6. They wanted me to have one puff twice a day of Lubfrobec whereas I’ve been on two puffs twice a day of Fostair. I’ve had to have two lots of antibiotics and one lot of steroids and it’s just beginning to go. I’ve still got a wet cough though although it’s clear. If you really need to see the Asthma nurse I would insist either you see her or you will go above their heads to your consultant. It makes you wonder if they are trying to kill us off. I was stable for four years until they changed my inhalers. The Asthma nurse recommended I go back on my normal inhalers and she’s also recommending I see the Consultant again. So I’m happy. I hope you get somewhere. I’ve never been a pushy person but the way things are you’ve got to fight your corner or go down. Good luck.