Not completed Access college course any advice please.

[bobbyb]

Last year was a super stressful year I sold my house in London and moved to the Midlands where I ended up unwittingly living in the same house as my parents who both have dementia. I was supposed to be living in an annexe next door to them which was being renovated which took a lot longer than anticipated, on top of this I had a toddler to look after. During this time my dad deteriotated and went into hospital for six weeks where my Mother drove me almost to breaking point. I told my family that was it I would be having no part in their care as soon as he came out of hospital. I had started doing an access course in humanities and social sciences I started two weeks late and I have been so exhausted I have missed a lot of work and the truth is it is such an appalling college I just can't stomach going there any more, they have no concept of adult education and it is utterly demoralising going there. Anyway is there a way I can avoid paying the fees? I don't think I could face going there again. Maybe do an online course or transfer . I have ordered a thyroid plus blood test but can't find anywhere to have it drawn and am having my iron and vitamin d tested on the nhs as well as the usual thyroid. On top of the I have found a cyst under my jaw and am going to hospital to have it looked at. I used to be a patient of the wonderful Dr S in the past and have seen Dr P a couple of times in the past. Maybe I should see him again . Any suggestions would be helpful.

[bluebug]

With any college or university course if you have problems you need to go and talk to a tutor first. There is always someone who is responsible for pastoral care.  I suspect if you had done that within a couple of weeks of getting on the course you would have escaped paying the fees.

I know from the few people who have done Access courses that their courses were poor and most people who started with them didn't finish them. However if you do then you can if you are know how to play the system get on to a university degree course elsewhere.

[Fola]

I did access to nursing course in 2014/15, it was so difficult as I was already suffering from this debilitating hashimoto thyrioditis. Did u call student finance immediately, if not pls do to find out if they stopped paying the college when u stopped attending. As I ve received a letter for repayment of my student loan less than a year after the completion of my course.

[Margjean]

I hope you never need anyone to look after you.

[Zephyrbear in reply to Margjean]

That's a bit harsh. You don't even know this person or her circumstances and yet you're presuming to judge her in a negative way. She's come here for advice and help, not blanket condemnation, so if you can't contribute anything positive, then don't bother contributing at all!

[Hidden]

My husband had a blood draw at Solihull BUPA ordered through Blue Horizon. Dr P does come to Malvern but he came last month so not sure when he will be back again. Good luck.

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link and you get a discount if you quote Thyroiduk's code.

Blue Horizon do pin-prick tests and some surgeries' nurse might draw blood for you (whoever you decide to use) although those who have done this will let you know how they did theirs.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[bobbyb]

Yes that is harsh, I have spent years of my life looking after them often rushing back from London when they have had falls etc . It has cost me my home and my job  and I have been very ill myself. The reason I put my foot down is my Brother and Sister have done very little to help.  As they say actions speak louder than words and I did not want to wait until I had had a heart attack or a stroke until they helped it was also unfair on my child. My Parents now have carers and I keep an eye on them. This would not have happened if I had carried on being a doormat. I can not even describe how stressful it is looking after not one but two people with dementia .  Thank you for your support Zephrbear x

[Rebec in reply to bobbyb]

You have to take care of your mental and physical health first of all. Your child depends on you. You can't allow yourself to get ill.  My mother had senile dementia and when she had a hip operation at 97, my daughter broke her left foot. I had to decide if to fly and be with my mother or stay and help my daughter who was staying with us together with her two children following a lengthy divorce. I decided that the people here needed me more. Those decisions are never easy to make and nobody has the right to judge you or me either as nobody knows the whole picture. My mother had a carer but my husband who doesn't drive wouldn't have been of much help to my daughter and her children. 

Maybe your siblings didn't do anything because they saw you taking care of everything. 

[bobbyb in reply to Rebec]

Thankyou thats what I have done. I am also a single parent so can't allow myself to get ill.  My Daughter is my main priority and I have made that clear. My Parents both have carers now and I had to be firm and draw a line.  I am still around to keep an eye on them but that's as far as it goes.

[Clutter]

Bobbyb,

If you have already ordered tests which require phlebotomy ask your GP surgery or local hospital phlebotomy dept. how much it will cost for a private phlebotomy draw.  There are private phlebotomy services in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

If you haven't ordered tests yet you can order home test finger prick microtainer tests from Blue Horizon and Genova via the link above.

[marigold22]

Just a little comment - I was reading through your complete story & all the answers in.  I was then shocked when you said you have a brother and a sister.  You should not feel guilty.  Social services should provide care at home for your parents.  You should not have to shoulder all that on your own, particularly with your own child & ill health.  Best wishes  x

[SilverAvocado]

I've had private blood draw many times. I phone up all the places I usually get my NHS blood drawn. I was passed around a few different people, but eventually found there are a number of places I can go throughout the area. Here they don't charge anything for doing it. 

Then there was a bit of trial and error, as it turns out there is more than one design of vacutainer, and most clinics will only have training and equipment for one. Apparently most towns will only have one. So it mighty be that I am lucky, living in Liverpool the South side of town is on one system, the North on the other. And there is one clinic that uses both systems. I now travel an hour to get to the place that does both. They are also quite friendly there, and have the kind of chairs you can lower back into a horizontal position so I don't have to worry about fainting forward onto the floor. 

I believe Blue Horizon have deals with a couple of different private hospital chains so you can buy a complete package including the phlebotomy and go in to one of their venues. 

[SilverAvocado in reply to SilverAvocado]

I should mention that at one time I was turned away from a place because they said they didn't do that form of vacutainer, even though I'd been there at least once before with the same kit. Of course a big nuisance, but it wasn't the end of the world, as they could direct me to a place that would take it. I'm not quite sure I believe they were unable to do it, or just wanted to get rid of me. 

[bobbyb]

Thanks for all the advice, very helpful, apart from the troll.