Rheumatology telephone advice line service survey

[Aribah-NRAS]

Below is a link to a short questionnaire developed by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with NRAS to share your experiences of using a rheumatology telephone advice line service. This information will be used to help us understand how telephone advice line services can be improved.

Many rheumatology units are finding it increasingly challenging to respond to telephone advice line calls which often results in long waits for patients to receive the advice and support they require. A recent national survey of nurses and pharmacists providing telephone advice line services has identified ways in which services could be improved. As these services are for people with arthritis it would be great to know the experiences of NRAS community that have used their local rheumatology telephone advice line services. forms.office.com/e/CMcC1Un4Kp

If you would like more information about this survey please contact Professor Sarah Ryan at [e-mail]

[virtualreality]

done!

[Bootoo]

Done.

[Wobbies]

Mine stopped during covid and has never been reinstated.

[AgedCrone]

We might as well leave messages with the milkman as with rheumy nurses helpline here.

[medway-lady]

Done and ours works really well. I’ve no issues at all. But only used once and I’m not going to say why as it’s not in my view relevant. Consultant rang back next day.

[nanny_bee71]

Done

[HeadInASpin]

Done

[treble-ringer]

good form - worth doing!

[purplecyclist]

I hope the surveys will help both ends of the helpline

[Pinkpop]

I've done the survey.I have never had a problem with the help line. I ring in the morning and someone has always contacted me the same day. I don't live in a really built up area so I guess that is a factor. Keep smiling everyone 🙂

[Runrig01]

done 👍

[whitedog]

Ours used to be answered between certain hours but now you have to leave your details and wait for a call back.

The GP surgery has an online message service - it's not always available but it's useful if you just want a quick answer to a non-urgent query. Rheumatology could set something like that up. My last query was just to ask if I was OK to take a particular supplement. I had to wait days for someone to call and say 'yes'.

[Chockyuk]

Done!

Mine were great, now all of a sudden nothing, leave a message to monitor bloods - they only call back if there’s a problem which is fine, but for the past three months I have only just found out from my GP that my ALT is very high, the helpline never flagged it with my Rheumatologist! Pretty poor not to mention dangerous. Now I’m stuck, been told by my Rheumatologists secretary (who I called yesterday) to carry on with my Mthx, until my Rheumatologist gets back from holiday next week!