Hi all. Well it’s now 4 weeks since I first tested negative after nearly 5 weeks of Covid. So my final words on this may surprise a few and I haven’t changed my mind on getting the antivirals……get them! However, what has happened since I tested negative has made me sit up a bit. There have been times in the past few weeks I thought I had it again, same symptoms but testing negative, in fact I am sure something happens with people on who are immune compromised and they have this “mimicking” of symptoms but the one thing that shocked me a bit is the complete apathy by GPs and their staff in relation to us that are of greater risk, the GPs and receptionists couldn’t care less, they are happy for people with Covid to openly circulate with vulnerable people in a waiting room. Yes I got through it, it wasn’t too bad, a couple of bad nights and a bit of snotty breathlessness and generally feeling crappy but never thought I was in serious trouble, just as well because the only help would have been if seriously ill would be if I admitted to hospital and that frightened me. Isn’t it more cost effective to keep people out of hospital? Never mind an NHS overhaul mr Starmer you need to change mindsets of employees first. Please take heed, it’s gone away for the “normals” but not for us. Nick.
Covid Again - Watch this Space - Final Words - Vasculitis UK
Covid Again - Watch this Space - Final Words
It does seem that Covid is rife at the moment.
Put yourself in the position of a GP or their staff. You are just one of many walking into the surgery or phoning them. They see you for a few minutes and will see lots of people who may just have a niggling cough or alternately are dying of cancer. To a certain extent they have to protect themselves from the onslaught of people seeing them daily and may seem uncaring. I would prefer that they are good and professional at their job. I do agree there do seem to be some who are neither!
I think piglette that there’s a lot of truth in that, it certainly applies where we go, they have been going downhill since lockdown finished, what do you think of the Practice Manager bringing her big dog to work sat barking all through surgery? I think that’s a bit dodgy. We are changing practices though, if should have my last Rituximab in November and I want to make sure that the practice are on the ball with regular blood monitoring etc. But I’ve booked my Covid jab with a nearby pharmacy and it’s the first time since October 2020 that I have had an email asking me too so a ray of light.
I have the same problem. Five practise managers in five years and the fifth one has just left. All the partners are now also working privately. However our pharmacy is brilliant.
Ours too. Brilliant pharmacy.
I am a member of my GP surgery Patient Participation Group. I suggested a box of masks should be kept in the waiting area with a sign explaining some were more vulnerable who are in the waiting area. This is all set up still. GPs sometimes are still wearing masks. The screen which has different health things coming up also includes a banner mentioning masks and vulnerability too. The wording matches that on the sign so I guess was written by the staff.
Every three months there is a PPG Meeting and this gets discussed. The doctors want to avoid getting covid too. So although the rules nationally are we can go back to normal, if is possible locally to encourage people to think of others and to inform through signage and provide free masks.
Joining the PPG has been good for lots of reasons. I can recommend it.
That sounds really positive so it’s good to hear StaritedCaracara, I guess the difficult thing for me is the part of getting others to think about people like us. Nick.
Found on the group there are others with chronic medical conditions.
Meetings are online every 3 months, but some of us meet socially once in between and we communicate by email on things week to week.
We contribute ideas for newsletters, like posters we see, and the website. Help with survey questions so get the feedback from patients.
Main thing is trust has been built up. Many retired and previously medical health professionals, others like me not.
Everyone cares and all get on well really. I guess they vary, they need a good chair.
Also need to make sure names not included on minutes or website, as patients need to go to surgery about issues not the PPG, as we are only volunteers.
Experience of Covid with no antibodies! 
