Who has had a telephone check-up and was it useful ?

[jacobsmum24]

Good afternoon everyone, hope you are all doing well and starting to enjoy a little bit more freedom now.

I have just had my 6-monthly check-up appointment at the Liver Unit cancelled in favour of a telephone consultation which I totally understand in the current climate. I am sure many others are in the same position.

I just wondered how useful you found the telephone consultation in the absence of any ultrasound and blood test results ? I have to add I feel fine and don't think my condition has really changed so not worried about it but just curious as to other's experiences.

On the plus side, I won't have to explain my lockdown weight gain when getting on the scales !

[Isabelle2]

Hi

Yes, I had one in May. It wasn’t brilliant as it was my first having moved house so therefore specialist centre. I didn’t know the dr, wanted to raise certain things but couldn’t as we weren’t physically together. I had done some bloods though which she got and showed a low vit D level. Am outside quite a bit in the garden. This meant she has also asked for other tests such as osteoperosis Blood test.

[Isabelle2 in reply to Isabelle2]

Sorry pressed send too quickly!

So my telephone appointment was mixed. I was left feeling frustrated but she had diagnosed a problem.

Wishing you all the best

Isabelle xx

[Hidden]

Hiya,

I had a telephone consultation last week, it wasn’t with my regular consultant but one of his registrars so I was a bit put off from the start, my consultant knows me and I feel comfortable discussing things with him. Then I had issues with my phone signal so missed him telling me most of my blood test results, I had to ask him to repeat himself so much that it was embarrassing!

I much prefer a face to face meeting, although like you I didn’t miss having to get on the scales!

I also think that you can tell a lot about a patient if they are in front of you, whether they look well or not whereas over the phone they don’t have a clue.

I see my liver consultant twice a year, I suppose in the future I wouldn’t mind one telephone appointment but would definitely like to have a face to face meeting too. I guess another plus is that it saves on travel time and waiting around for the appointment in hospital as they rarely run on time.

[Steak]

Hi had a telephone call in may. I had sent my bloods through b4 the call so they were assessed at that point. I spoke 2 a consultant l hadn't spoken to b4 but he was very thorough. I myself wud prefer face to face but obviously this won't be 4 a while now. Take care.

[Supportinghubby]

My husband had a telephone appt arranged but they had the wrong phone number so it didn't go ahead. When he got back in touch with them they arranged for the GP to do the blood tests (which the GP took some cajoling to do but we had just gone into lockdown), this identified low vitamin d so he had supplements arranged.

He hasn't had an in depth chat though, just a letter saying the rest of his results were broadly ok. His ultrasound has now been scheduled for next month so some things are slowly getting back to normal.

[X19Dave]

Hi my wife just had one and it went very well we both think it is the best way forward and much better than driving all the way there and back 300 miles just look at the damaged saved to the enviroment and also the time it has saved us and less people on the roads less accidents less traffic jams WIN WIN

Also my wife has never had a ultrasound done at her normal appointments if she needs one it is set up as a seperate visit

And she had to go to her local GP with a blood testing kit they took her blood filled the files sent it to her liver hospital who done all the needed tests and she was given the blood results at the phone meeting and not have to wait

Dave

[X19Dave]

What i should have added is i think it would be better using video calling we have it in place, then they can see you to see if there visually looks to be any problems

[Hidden]

Good afternoon jacobsmum,

I think it can be a very different experince having a telephone consultation instead of a face to face one.

I can see our forum members have shared their experiences.

May I suggest in order that you get 'full value' from your appointment, you write your questions down in advance.

I have added the link to the British Liver Trust 'questions for your doctor' which may help

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Good luck with your appointment

Trust9

[Lam1e]

Hi

I get my bloods taken by the phlebotomy team and they moved them out of the hospital to somewhere more manageable.

I have video consultations with my Drs and that works pretty well👍