Clinic appointments

[orange33]

Do anybody know if clinic appointments are now up and running. Very reluctant to start phone ing.

[Oshgosh]

It seems to depend on where you live. A lot of is being done through phone appointments. If you have any concerns you need to ring, I know it’s a nuisance, but it’s the only way at present. Take care

[Caza]

Mine was a telephone appointment. It was meant to be by a videoconference but apparently my consultant doesn’t like that, although he did offer. & I’ve just received a letter to say my next appointment in March will be by telephone. Really not happy about it, much prefer a face to face appointment at the hospital ☹️ Seems that’s the way forward, my gp is doing the same.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Caza]

Mine is a telephone appointment too. A nurse at my surgery let slip that F2F will be rare going forward as they intend to keep phone/video consults in future.

[Caza in reply to Dobcross1]

Yes that's what I feared. I know some people prefer not to have to travel to the hospital but for me I didn’t feel that I was getting the same time. The call was rushed.

[Dobcross1 in reply to Caza]

Agree entirely.

[Boxerlady]

My clinic is doing some f2f but only for new patients or if they feel that there's a particular reason to see you. I've had some successful phone consultations but was called into the clinic because they wanted to assess my joints before deciding which new medication to prescribe. Next appointment booked is by phone and I think that will be the norm for the foreseeable future.

[Hidden]

My clinic, physio and gp are in Birmingham and still no f2f and I’ve an appointment with Rheumy in September on the phone. According to some medical friends this is here to stay for quite sometime . F2f at doctors discretion.

[Pippy25 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I was told face to face were by the doctors 'invitation' only and because of the impractical layout of the surgery I can see this going on for the foreseeable future.

[wishbone]

Just phone appointments here, both rheumy and GP. The latter refused to blood test me for the second time a few days ago because I'm shielding. Though this time rheuemy, who require the blood test, is sending my GP surgery a letter who said they will get back to me once they receive it.

[allanah]

Ours are doing video or face to face visits and all infusions still going

[amc282 in reply to allanah]

Just received a letter from NBT Rheumy changing my physical appointment in November to a Virtual appointment. My May appointment was cancelled.

[allanah in reply to amc282]

If you are having problems you can ring the department and talk to them. Or try the consultants admin team and they often get back to you x

In our hospital they call you and if they need to physically see you then they arrange a time x

[Summerrain14]

My last two appointments have been by telephone with my consultant and have been a positive experience for me. I am waiting for appointments to come through with rheumy nurse next month and my next appointment in three months time with my consultant so not sure if these are telephone appointments or not as yet but suspect they may be telephone. I know in my hospital if patients are needing to be seen they will arrange this and that infusions etc are back up and running. May be worth you calling to find out and if you have are having problems or have concerns it is very important for you to contact your team. Really hope you get the support you need. x

[BoneyC]

I have a face to face on 16th September with Rheumatologist, at least I think I have, as the hospital have not notified otherwise via their online, paperless, system.

[Kookymare]

I had a f2f at the beginning of the month. They are seeing new or in those whose RA is not stable/under control. Speaking with the Rheumatologist, I think phone/video cons are here to stay for some.

[HappykindaGal]

Our rheumy department is doing video consults and will change permanently. I think many are looking to do the same as they now have the opportunity to do that.

Took them long enough. Imagine how much time and money that will save and they will be able to see more people. NHS is as slow as a tortoise. I was part of a project team to do this in 2006 for heavens sake.

How many routine appointments have we all gone to. Spent an age finding a parking space. Sat in a busy waiting room, only to see the rheumy for ten mins to hear blood tests are all normal and is there anything you want to tell me. And out and home again. Pointless waste of time that will now be done remotely without any faff. More time for people that do need a face to face.

Guess they got there in the end.

[bpeal1]

It seems to vary a lot depending on where you are. My daughter has had a face to face appointment about 3 weeks ago.

[Biofreak]

My clinic isn't up and running for face to face appointments. I live in Manchester. I had a letter saying they were going to do phone appointments with emergencies first on the list. This will be reviewed if and when the situation changes. The letter also says to ring the Nurse advice line if you any problems or concerns.

[pmcc63]

I'm in Glasgow and attend Stobhill rheumatology, they've been great with me. My April monthly appointment was cancelled due to COVID-19 but this has now come through for late August as a F2F at usual clinic. I had a bad flare last month and they'd set up an email facility so they called me back immediately and I went in via taxi masked up and got all over steroid shot then back the next week to get shown how to inject my MTX. Told I'm back on 2 weekly blood tests and GP surgery has already called me to arrange this. I'm just so grateful for getting all this treatment/care during a pandemic. I was the only person in the rheumy clinic on both occasions as they're apparently only seeing new emergency referrals and folk like me whose RA is not under control yet- the hospital was like a ghost town but at least I felt very safe!

[Mall]

Sheffield Hallamshire hospital, telephone call instead of face to face last week.

[Wobbies]

My appointment with rheumy nurse in Cambridge was telephone. She said that they are having difficulty space wise to get back to face to face as they cannot guarantee the necessary safeguards due ti building limitations. Anyway it was an excellent consultation as always.