Doctor's appointments

I didn't know the way to see someone ie, nurse or doctor has changed!

Hubby and I took a slow (snails pace) walk to our docs yesterday ( about 20 houses away) We just wanted to jump on someones scales so we knew which 1 of my scales were closest at home ( I have 3 sets, I'm not sure why??)

You can ask for an appointment,Then the receptionist will call you within a stated time and ask as a triage????!!! When they have finished with short assessment, They , THEY can see if you really need to see anyone!

I just wanted to weigh myself,

Our neighbour said there was 1 at the chemist, Wow, big old ones for a penny, A PENNY.

Tried to cancel the appointment, Only to be told they want to take my bloods,blood pressure, ecg and oxygen and a urine check!

I just wanted to WEIGH MYSELF.

I'm going the right way so I'm happy enough, It really just seems a cack way of doing this

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

The triage system is used so that you can see the best person - ie gp, nurse etc

I don't think we've ever been able to go into our surgery and ask to get weighed....only ever checked as part of an appointment

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

The scales in the doc's office are spot on, I just weigh in once a month If their office is free and then the rest of the month I use my own bathroom scales

[Dinkie]

Seems to me they are taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut. At our surgery scales are there to be used by anyone walking in, likewise blood pressure machine. The results are recorded on our notes by simply pressing a button. Never had to see anyone at all. The results are checked by practice nurse and they contact me if required.

[Hidden in reply to Dinkie]

It is a bit daft not to, really,

I think I'll put something in the suggestion box

[Seascapes31 in reply to Hidden]

Good plan! Well done for the walk though 😃

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

So you got some other things checked whilst you were there Debs😉I’ve gone over too digital scales but I don’t like what they are telling me at the moment 😩our doctors have gone over too yet another online system , it’s okay but I do,worry for the very elderly that do not have iPads etc and on the phone if busy can take ages when you ring ,xx

[denny_the_wench]

Oh Debs - that so strikes a chord with me.... scuse my long reply, but hope it might give someone a bit of a giggle!

I have stage 4 kidney disease and so I get regular urine infections. I have home test strips so I knew I had an infection and needed to get a course of antibiotics to clear it.

Day 1

I had one sterile pot left at home so I filled it and took it down to drop in at the surgery as I was passing. They refused to take it over the counter and said I needed to make a phone call and book it in. I went home and made the phone call to ask to book a time so that I could drop it off. I was told I'd get a triage phone call back that afternoon. It didn't come.

Day 2

The next morning (at an inconvenient time for me) I got a phone call which told me that I could then drop a sample in. I couldn't go that afternoon so I went down the next morning instead.

Day 3

Drove down to surgery to drop it off. I got a phone call from GP in the afternoon to ask me when I'd made the sample - I told them Monday morning (Day 1) and he said oh that is no good we need a fresh one! 😤 I explained about the test strips and reminded him of my medical history and that I knew what I was doing; no go - needed to be a fresh one. I said I had no sterile pots left and so he said no worries you can pick up some more when you come.

Day 4

I duly filled a glass jar (well washed and then sterilised in boiling water - the same way as I do when making jam) and took it down to the surgery. They wanted to refuse to take it 🤬.

At this point, I really lost my 💩! In a thunderous voice, I told them that I'd sterilised the jar the same way as I did when making food for myself - and unless they were going to consume the contents then it should be perfectly fine to show that I had an infection which by now was severe due to the length of time it had taken for me to drop off a simple sample pot o'piss! By the time my rant was finished my GP - who was also thankfully on shift that day - had heard me and told the receptionist to take it. He also wrote a prescription there and then for my usual tablets so that I could get them from the chemist next door. Whilst he was still in earshot, I asked the receptionist for some pots for the next time - and when she started to tell me that I needed to make a phone call to order ONE (and only one) pot I slapped both hands down on the counter and said "REALLY???" GP turned round and handed me 3 pots without saying a word.

My point is - the NHS is so strapped for cash that because of the so-called triage process it takes GPs and receptionists MORE time to deal with a single patient issue - and that means longer wait times for everything else. Their time dealing with my problem and costs of phone calls all cost money - not to mention the cost of my three 4-mile round trips to the surgery, and the fact that I ended up having to have two courses of antibiotics instead of one because the infection had taken a greater hold!

Sorry, Rant over!

PS I used to work for the NHS in a Mental Health Trust but I had to leave because it affected my Mental & physical health so much!

[Hidden in reply to denny_the_wench]

I couldn't of said it better myself! Haha

Thanks for sharing your adventure,( no post is ever too long )Well I go to waste the nurses time tomorrow, Not sure now if I should write my GP a letter about OT ? She asked me to ask GP to refer me to the wheel chair assessor, So Should I ask at the reception? Will I have time to get home before they ring? What happens if Iv'e lost my phone? I don't live far approx 20 houses down from me, What If my GP say's she will refer me? Do I have to speak to the triage department 1st, before I can open the door? What if I'm not suitable for a chair?

If I don't get approved then I wont get my front door,and I might cry😭😭

It's sanity in a world full of crazy or is it the other way around

Don't get me started on the blooming apps, I don't know many I'm supposed to have, In the near future there will be an app to wipe your butt

Sorry if this is causing anyone to be offended or well anything really , My humour is my irony

I got antibiotics too Haha I thought I was getting the remaining 2 teeth out but she said she can't, I have an abcess (sorry, can't spell)

[denny_the_wench in reply to Hidden]

er.... there already IS an app to wipe your butt

technical.ly/startups/wow-w....

(would you believe it... or not as it was a spoof but very funny!!!)

[Hidden in reply to denny_the_wench]

"SPEECHLESS" hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, !!!!!!!!???????????????

[SweepSooty]

Not sure what is the point of doctors reception, I sat in the doctors waiting room this morning when an elderly gentleman went to the reception to tell them he had an appointment but was barked at and told to use the screen to check himself in, the poor man could hardly stand up and didn't understand about the screens, then another lady asked the reception if she could order her repeat prescription but was again told to phone the surgery and use the automated service or to order online! So why are there two receptists in the first place? Surely 2 cardboard cut outs would be cheaper and more use!

[Hidden in reply to SweepSooty]

Getting ready for the robot uprising, Then again I think It's already happened