You couldn’t make this up.

UPDATE to this saga.

So the “urgent” blood test taken at the NOT WALK IN CENTRE on Monday has returned results to the circus, I mean surgery, but as they are short of staff the results have not been filed and joined up to my notes/record so remain unavailable .

The results have been there since Wednesday afternoon and it’s now Friday afternoon, what a shocking debacle that place is! If it were a restaurant the council would close it down !

—————

Just had to share this with you all. Note my diagnosis is Stills Disease which for me manifests as rheumatoid Disease with symptoms similar to PMR and Lupus however I’m currently unwell with something else and having tests for pancreatic or liver cancer.

So I call the surgery, a nurse will call me back, she does and says come and collect sample bottles for stool and urine. O830 next day arrive surgery thinking I’ll do samples there but facilities out of order! Drive home to do sample but upon opening find someone else’s details entered on bottles. Noting the chemicals inside that could be test specific I go back to surgery and get replacement bottles. Upon opening tests I find two very strange looking test bottles with no instructions and how anyone can do a stool sample in a syringe type container is beyond me. Anyway somehow I do samples and having been told to return them ASAP dash back to surgery only to find them closed for lunch due to sickness. Decide to wait in car park until they reopen but spot warden so have to buy ticket! Return samples phew. A few days later I get a text saying repeat samples as not useable gggrrrrrr.

As I was having an urgent blood test by appointment at the WALK IN centre (10 day wait at surgery) I asked if I could collect a sample pack there and the nurse went out to her car to get me one WITH instructions, what a different experience ! Also my blood test was booked for 1830 but all done and on my way home by 1835.

Now all I have to do is get the repeat sample to the circus ops sorry I mean surgery and see if they can join it to the correct paperwork and send it off to be tested........

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

😂🤣- sounds about par for the course…….

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Your surgery needs a kick up the proverbial! But actually, it isn't funny really, it could delay tests unnecessarily and a less determined patient would just give up. Had the practice given you the correct vials? Because that is REALLY important.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

it appears to be a fecal blood test although the cancers mentioned by locum GP in the phone call were ovarian, pancreatic and liver.

I know we shouldn’t speculate and Google too much (your good advice) but the merest uneducated look indicates links between my condition and autoimmune pancreatitis or hepatitis and my Dad died recently from NHL increasing my risk for that. I just wish I could see a dr and explain all this before they order tests as it may save some time. Any way enough said on my off topic issue as there many worse off with PMR issues here but I really appreciate your response and support and also that from DorsetLady as being unwell like this is lonely feeling x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Might not be PMR but you are a member of this community and as such it is not really off topic and something similar could happen to any of us.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

appreciate that thank you.

[Nextoneplease]

Oh stillsdisease I do feel for you! You’ve made your story into a comedy of errors but really your surgery absolutely needs to get its act together!!! I hope you get the results back soon and that it’s not as serious as you fear.

Please don’t feel lonely, post on here if you need to and I hope you feel better soon. Hugs 🤗xx

[Hidden in reply to Nextoneplease]

than you fir your encouraging words 😀

[Longtimer]

Nothing shocks anymore, hope you complain! Fingers crossed for good results.🤞

[Hidden]

not sure where to start with a complaint apart from my MP, GMC or a letter to the BMJ. There’s no manager st the surgery only a different locum GP each week and temporary staff on reception who would steal ice cream from babies. There’s no clear route via the surgery for sure. We sought a different surgery but all over subscribed here in Peterborough area. All suggestion welcome.

[SheffieldJane]

Nightmare! I admire your resilience. I have cried for less this morning.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

oh no, here’s a cheery hug 🤗

[SheffieldJane in reply to SheffieldJane]

I need that hug! I hope you have untangled your - I don’t even know what to call it - mess maybe, but none of your making. X

[Bcol]

Hi SD, really feel for you with that and well done for making it sound like a numerous tale rather than the nightmare it was. I don't think anyone here is going to worry complain about you posting here when you feel the need. Even if it doesn't get you anywhere I guess you should complain to someone in the surgery with a copy of the letter/email to the local health authority/commissioning authority or whatever they are called now. Then perhaps just go to the local Walk In Centre. Hope things get sorted and results come back with positive and useful results.

[piglette]

and you think that is surprising? The only thing that surprised me was that they normally are open over lunch time, although they could have been telling porkies about a staff member being ill.

[Poshdog]

Porkies? Really? !!! I had text with form to complete as to how the surgery performed at recent appointment - what appointment? Then a reminder for appointment with no date. Followed by third text - would you like an appointment? Should I frame them?? 🤔

[Pixix]

sorry you had to go through all that, it’s lousy. Closed for lunch due to sickness could be Covid spreading through staff at your surgery, so don’t forget a mask!! That’s something extra you don’t need right now! Hope it’s plainer sailing going forward, S xx

[Hidden in reply to Pixix]

thanks for your reply and kind words x

[Sharitone]

Oh no! At lest YOU were on the ball - I have twice gone to have a blood test, then realised I have left the form at home!

Btw, do thye really only have lunch when they are sick?