This morning I had a COPD review unexpectedly (isn't due until October) done by a Nurse Associate....
N.A. Are you breathless at all ?
Me. Yes.
The End.
It will be interesting to see if my management plan for Emphysema is updated and copied to me as in previous two years. I am still stunned by this review as apparently the brevity is due to Covid. Anyone else's GP surgery now doing this?
Hi, my husband Pete doesn’t seem to have a COPD review as such but is having an asthma review on the 10th. He has chronic bronchitis, asthma and sarcoidosis. No idea how bad Covid is where we live and not sure what our GP surgery is doing about COPD reviews, if anything. Xxxx
I've no idea what Covid has to do with anything as it was a face to face appointment as has happened for previous two years.
I think covid is pretty bad everywhere at the moment.
Was the nurse wearing a mask? Were you offered one? Ive read that you have to be in the company of someone infected for around 15 minutes for infection to occur which might account for the brevity. Though new variants may react differently. Also it's said that viruses are at their maximum infectivity the day before symptoms show themselves.
If they are that concerned about covid they might as well have done a telephone review. If that was me I would be pretty annoyed at such a review as you have had. I have a six monthly 3/4 hour review with my oxygen nurse who goes through everything. I have my next mid-September so I'll ask her about covid concerns. That should be a bad time as the kids will have gone back to school.
I would contact your GP and ask what kind of review is usual for your stage of copd.
No masks involved. It seemed to be the "its Covid" excuse used for everything that doesn't happen nowadays. My usual COPD review ( advanced nurse practitioner ) isn't due until November, not October . Nurse Associates can't prescribe so I assume that's why no question about inhalers etc.
True. My leasehold service charge bill for 24/25 arrived last week, but due for payment by 1.4.24.I suspect working from home is more to blame than Covid.
What a waste of time!
oh yes lol. Luckily I'm mild to moderate Emphysema with only shortness of breath as a symptom, haven't had a chest infection or cough since the 1980s so not an issue for me really but i wonder if it's the same for serious COPD patients too.
Hi, yes my review lasted 2 minutes exactly they could not wait to get off the phone. I put in a complaint via the gp app and they called me back . But instead of a different person he was the same one , still started the call with “ how can I help you “ even though they called me. I asked him why there was no CAT assessment, last year I had a nurse do it and she gave me 6/40 when I found the form online and did it myself I scored 17/40 ( this year my score was 23/40) he told me “ they feel it’s to robotic!” . He marked my records incorrectly as in “ no rescue pack indicated “ when they prescribed it and it in my notes . I just give up with them at the moment although I will complain if I feel it warranted. Hope it goes well for you. Kevin
Hi,
I had my annual review yesterday. I look upon this review and expect it to be a partnership in my care. I don’t expect to be a passive recipient of what is offered to me and I am sure you dont expect that either ? I always go to a medical appointment with a notebook to record information as remembering everything is tricky. I can then keep an eye on trends over the recent (20) years.
Nursing Associates are now bone fide roles in the NHS. They are well trained, qualified and regulated. Some nurses will always have more experience than others.
Yesterday we spent so long try to sort my already healthy diet to regulate my pre diabetes blood sugar levels - now it is sorted after me going round the houses. I will be referred to see a dietician.
There was little remaining time during the review to discuss my COPD and the Asthma. So I know how I feel and what the options are for changing anything - open to options of course. So I let the nurse know how my lungs are doing or not doing…
If you feel strongly that the practice doesn’t offer you enough in a review then do approach your local Patient Participation Group and ask how this can be improved for the patient.
Go well,
Pauline
I find alot of these reviews done by the nurses just a tick of list and a complete waste of money and time. I have recently been to see the bladder nurse and when trying to explain she was tapping in the computer saying just stick to the questions i ask you while I put the answers in and didn't want to know any problems at was having only what was on the list x
That's exactly what was said to me ! I shall wait until November and see if I am offered review by the A.N.P when it is properly due.
This seems par for the course, at least for my GP practice. On my last visit to the "respiratory nurse" I asked to have my name put on the list for pulmonary rehab. She said she would apply for me. Many months passed and I heard nothing. However, on a very rare face to face with a GP when I was having ticker issues, it was noticed that I had been taking prescribed Amlodipine for high blood pressure for 10 years yet never had a blood pressure review! My prescription was immediately doubled and I was booked in for the BP nurse appointment for a few weeks later. When I saw the BP nurse I queried the ongoing silence regarding the pulmonary rehab course. She looked at the files and saw that my previous request wasn't mentioned at all. It was thanks to the blood pressure nurse that I am now on the pulmonary rehab course, albeit a year later than I might have been.
You would think it was obvious to everyone including the nurse involved that that revue was a complete waste of time.
abit nervous 😕
Relvar/trelegy 
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