Annual health review?

There has been a great deal of discontent expressed in the last day or so on our local Nextdoor forum, regarding the inability to get through to our surgery, unavailability of appointments and worries about the diagnosis over the phone for sick children. One lady did add a link to a radio interviewe with a GP, putting their side of the extreme pressure they are under, which was disturbing to hear. I am also reliably informed by a family member working in the NHS, that surgeries are paid a fee for the type of 'review' in question. I feel that, given I have had no dealings with the surgery for years, other than one flu jab (the impending one has had to be booked at Boots as the surgery cancelled the appt), a phone consultation a couple of months ago resulting in a prescription for HRT pessaries, so as I have never been diagnosed with any of the conditions their Facebook post specified and am in disgustingly good health apart from cranky knees (which has never been raised with the GP) , that the priority for their time should be with those who have more pressing needs, albeit the surgery won't get a fee for that. I shall therefore, not be contacting them as instructed to make an appointment.

My annual asthma review this year and last, has been by text message. A questionnaire with various boxes to complete "Do you think you're managing your asthma very well - reasonably well - fairly well - not well at all?" etc etc

About 10 questions of self-assessment, plus a link to a video showing how to use my inhaler if I didn't already know, then a message saying a doctor will review my answers within a few weeks. No mention of my peak flow numbers.

As I am controlling my asthma very well, I would prefer this to having to present myself at the surgery, but maybe not good for others not managing so well.

Growing0ldDisgracefully

Mamacaz, yes it is mystifying!

I did an Internet search on the wording, and there was a link to the surgery's Facebook page (I had no idea there was such a thing). After a great deal of trawling through it, there was a post about 'inviting' people for reviews so I put a comment about my surprise at receiving such. I have now got a comment back asking me to phone the surgery and they will explain. Quite apart from the very long winded recorded message and difficulties in getting through on the phone, why couldn't the original text have explained, instead of the tortuous route and time this is taking?! No wonder locally our surgery is not well thought of!

I think I will give this a miss, got too much going on atm, husband in hospital but hopefully out today or tomorrow then I'll convalescent running around stuff to do.

It sounds like you gave a lot on your plate at the moment.

DH and I always get annual reviews, one for medication, one for blood pressure check and blood tests and one for an asthma review. Apart from the blood pressure and blood test one this year these have been telephone appointments. The asthma review was by telephone as you can’t do the blow test because of Covid. We have a measuring thingy ourselves so gave the reading over the telephone.
We have had these tests for years. I thought they were the norm.

Mamacaz, yes it is mystifying!

I did an Internet search on the wording, and there was a link to the surgery's Facebook page (I had no idea there was such a thing). After a great deal of trawling through it, there was a post about 'inviting' people for reviews so I put a comment about my surprise at receiving such. I have now got a comment back asking me to phone the surgery and they will explain. Quite apart from the very long winded recorded message and difficulties in getting through on the phone, why couldn't the original text have explained, instead of the tortuous route and time this is taking?! No wonder locally our surgery is not well thought of!

I think I will give this a miss, got too much going on atm, husband in hospital but hopefully out today or tomorrow then I'll convalescent running around stuff to do.

Growing0ldDisgracefully

I have had a text from the GP surgery, asking me to make an appointment for an annual health review of my long term medical condition. News to me that I have a long term condition in the first place, or that I have had it long enough to warrant an annual review! I will phone the surgery at some point in the very narrow time span allowed for phoning (and will no doubt be on hols for ages....)
Just wondered if anyone else had experienced such an unexpected summons, and if so, what to expect?

I wonder if it might just be a very badly worded letter - could they actually mean an annual review of the condition of your long-term health?

I can see why you are mystified if you are unaware of having any long-term condition!

I get an annual check up; have done for years. I can't remember how it started. It's called the heart clinic, which is strange as the one thing they never do is listen to my heart. But they check everything else for which I am grateful.

NotToOld Thanks for asking yes I have tried all different medications. I seem to have reactions of some kind with all of the pain relief the doctor prescribed. Most of which are opiate based that’s the problem for me at least I know I won’t ever be a drug user. Alternative treatments and therapies I tried have never given any relief either. I think once osteoarthritis grips there is no letting go. My mum had the same problem you have to learn to live with it.
The only time I got light relief from the pain was going abroad to a sunny climate. I can’t be bothered with travel these days so I will stick with vitamin D.

Redhead56

Yes same here about three years ago our surgery was taken over by new doctors because of retirement. I received a text to go for tests. I was told I had kidney disease and it was detected about seven years ago. I was really upset at the time as know one had informed me before then. Apparently this happens a lot in many health centres so I have been told since.

I had bloods taken and was sent for a scan. I was told that the meds for my arthritis may have caused the kidney disease. I was told to stop taking the meds so now I just have to tolerate the pain.

That's awful, Redhead. Have you spoken to your GP about alternatives for your arthritis meds? It seems to me we are all getting a very poor service from our GPs at the moment.

My OH gets invited in every year for a well man check. PSA, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight etc.
I never get an invitation, though to be honest my surgery is wonderful otherwise with lovely receptionists, practice nurse and great doctors.

I think my surgery only do these if you’re on regular medication. I’m 70 and never been sent for, but the Surgery told DH (pre Covid) that I could request an annual MOT, if I wanted. (I didn’t).

I’m 68 and have blood tests twice a year plus an annual asthma clinic appointment and a check-up in my birthday month that includes a review of all my medication, blood test, weight and bp. I think it’s a brilliant service and feel very confident that my health and well-being are properly monitored.

I have a review once a year, I do bp for a week at home and send it in beforehand, I’m weighed, blood is taken and tested for liver function, cholesterol, diabetes, potassium, sodium etc. I think it started from age 60.

When I worked in a surgery, people over 75 were invited for a health check. As DH is now 83 and has never been called for one, I assume that they aren't done any more!

Interesting to hear of various texts! I had one from GP surgery. Thanking me for attending for weight and height checks, I haven’t, and would I like to join weight management advice, I don’t ?However the last two years flu vaccination has included a weigh in on the way out the door. Is there something nobody knows going on………

My adult disabled son had his first annual review some months ago, with the practice nurse. He had his blood pressure, and weight checked and urine sample sent off. I think he also had to have a blood test. I think it was the surgery adding him to the Covid vulnerable list that got him put on a list for annual reviews, as he has not had any checkups since getting too old for paediatric services.

I’ve changed GP’s three times in the past 5 years and they have all done an annual review of my medication normally in my birth month or as I join the surgery.
I’ve recently moved and been invited to my new surgery for an annual review. It hasn’t happened yet as I need a blood test and there is a shortage of blood vials.

Does the surgery get paid an extra bonus for doing these checks, does anyone know?

I was told I have "chronic kidney disease" and so was DH and all my old (over 80) friends. My GP explained it is not a disease as such, but that aging kidneys do not work as well as young ones. If the norm is a healthy 40 year old, not of us oldies will be "normal".

My surgery does annual health checks for everyone 65 and over.

I think it’s a good idea.

Conditions like high blood pressure don’t have any symptoms until they’ve done the damage and diabetes can be controlled if it’s borderline before it needs medication.

I went for a well woman check when I was 60, at the invitation of my gp surgery. An under active thyroid was picked up, of which I was completely unaware.

‘A stitch in time saves nine’ comes to mind. If everyone went along for a similar check, it might save money in the long run. I went again at 65, and hope I will be called when I’m 70, but with Covid, who knows.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I haven't been diagnosed with anything or set foot in the surgery for years except for the previous flu jab.
I'm wondering if it's because I turn 65 this week or because of a phone consultation in April, when I was prescribed locally applied HRT. Oh well, I suppose I'll have to set aside some time to brave the phone system (10 minutes of a recorded message being told not to go to the surgery, and to call 999 if you're in dire straits with your health) and see what transpires from that.

I get an annual check-up too, I think it is because I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Are you on any repeat prescriptions as this seems trigger it.

I have recently been summoned for an MOT which was done by the nurse.
I then got another text asking me to book for a diabetic review. I rang them to say I wasn't diabetic so to ignore it. When I mentioned my DH was diabetic they booked him in.
My DH is going in a fortnight.

DH used to get an annual review for some reason. He only really had hypertension at the time. I think they just checked that and took the usual set of bloods.
I am now diabetic but they never call me.