Appointments again!

Totally agree lucky. I’m sure any cardiac discussion would include cholesterol/statins. Why wouldn’t it?

So much for the holistic approach.

Bonkers absolutely bonkers.
And to think that some jobsworth type will have dreamed up this system and versions of this kind of nonsense will be inflicted on patients all over the country🤦‍♀️

Totally agree lucky. I’m sure any cardiac discussion would include cholesterol/statins. Why wouldn’t it? - I know it is going to because we discussed it on the phone and that was part of the reason for the second appointment.

Whilst I appreciate how hard receptionists work, ‘some’ do try and tell you they know best ! My husband called to make a follow up apt as the doctor had asked him - receptionist said ‘your blood results are fine you don’t need to come in’ - she was completely wrong .

No one thinks things through anymore.
I waited 7 weeks for a Cardiology appt at our local hosp (not complaining about the time waited).
When I arrived I had BP/weight taken.
Saw Cardiologist who had read my GP letter and I just reiterated to him what had already been conveyed by letter.
He then said I needed an Echocardiogram which would be about a month's wait as it's done by a different dept.

No one can join the dots anymore and think 'ooh, let's do all the scans/diagnostics first when pt arrives and have all results ready for when seen by the Dr's, like a one stop shop.

After the Echo I'll probably then wait another 6+ weeks to see the Cardiologist again.
All at the same hosp.

Then there's the stuff about not being given a specific time for something. A friend of mine has just had a replacement battery done for her heart pacemaker. She was told a day to be at the hospital for this - but not a time. So - because of them - she had to be there from about 9 a.m. until they actually did it - which was not until about 3 pm. Errr....hello.....what about refreshments during all that time? What about anything else she could have done during the wasted morning? What to do during all that time (bearing in mind she doesn't have things like a laptop or something she could keep herself occupied with (as she's even less techno-literate than I am)?

She could have spent the morning at home and doing something else - rather than just "wait wait wait" to suit them!

I went for a health check,but was told the nurse couldn't do my Asthma check at the same appointment,I had to make an appointment for a weeks time with the same nurse! what a waste of my time and more bus fare!
I assume the practise gets funding for each clinic I attend ??

We are so lucky to have the NHS for all its faults. I attend my hospital under 4 different consultants who all check with each other before giving me new meds etc. it takes time but at least they doing their best for me.

I agree that staff are doing their best, but they are bound by the algorithms on the screen on front of them.
A problem shows up on a blood test result, computer says ring patient for appt with nurse, rings patient who says she already has an appt coming up with a GP to discuss this .. there follows 10 minute discussion about it because receptionist cannot deviate from the instruction on the screen.....

The medical practice I use has the same system. If appointment is with GP then it is for one topic only. No good going in for, say, heart and happening to mention the big lump you discovered under your arm. Time allocation is critical apparently. Same with nursing staff though I do appreciate that they can have particular specialities and can't diagnose or treat outwith their remit.

They are definitely not joined up. My husband has terminal cancer with sadly not much time left. Recently he has been inundated with requests for diabetic screening, annual health check, retinal scanning and dietary appointments all of which are pointless at this stage. All these came from the same surgery.

FAWK: Ridiculous one topic per appointment system. What if the symptoms are related? Unless you are able to tell the GP (which you are not - he will tell you and stop you), how can a diagnosis possibly be made? They are not doing their job.

It can't just be cardiology, surely? I had a cardio appt at the hospital today. Yippee, I thought - we shall get something sorted. Silly me. The cardiologist had no history of my heart problems and was unable to obtain any computer access of any previous/ambulatory incidents within the same Trust. As has been said, the NHS is totally incapable of joining up the dots.

I was told by my GP receptionist that they could only make an appointment to discuss one thing. Ridiculous

I have a rare blood cancer - treatable but not curable. My local area had no haematology appts so I had to go to another area. No problem with that but I can’t have my 3 monthly blood tests done locally either as the 2 authorities can’t “speak” to each other so can’t share my results. I thought the clue was in the name National Health Service. I am very grateful to them all though.

I am having an appointment with a GP concerning the chaotic repreat medications communications, and also concerning my DNR and ReSPECT status , and me seeing my notes to update the advance directive. All of these problems should for clerical staff not a GP.

MadamP .... I am sorry you find yourself in this situation.

We have similar frustrations here in BC. A benefit (if one can find any) of the shutdowns during Covid is now the more common occurrence of phone appointments. It generally makes things a bit easier if it is to get results of tests and updated medications.

One silly thing here is the continued use of the fax machine between GP's and specialist or lab referrals. It's a bit archaic, and I've had to chase down faxes that weren't received between doctors. One bad example is DH was waiting for over two years to see a hip specialist in another city. When I called to check how far down on the list he was, they stated that because his arthritis has progressed he was no longer able to see that particular specialist, he needed another one, but they had faxed this result to his GP back in January. When I called it was in May. I followed up at the GP's office, and they never received the fax! In June we did find out that he is on another list now... but I got the name of the clinic just in case I need to follow up again. It's frustrating.

I suggest you make a habit of booking a double appointment.
If I want to speak to my GP there are always two or more things.
I book with the same GP - sometimes it's way in the future but at least it's booked in.

I have not seen my own GP for years. When I actually do get an appointment, your a*$€ is hardly sat on a chair before you get the reminder it's only a 10 minute appointment. Yet in the supposed land of milk and honey where I come from where everything is like Nirvana. Mr Swinney is once more going to wave his magic wand and conjure up walk-in centres and all the GPs to go with it. I do hope he can arrange for a new roof for one of our local health centres, where on rainy days you have to be careful not to fall over the buckets they put out to catch the rain. Sorry for the sarcasm, I'm totally fed up with it all and feel sorry for the health professionals who are expected to work in those conditions and the patients who have to be treated in those conditions.

I was taken to hospital by ambulance at just gone midnight on a Saturday evening. I anticipated a long wait in the ambulance at the hospital but no(1) I was first in line. I was admitted and triaged in minutes, put in an ICU, treated and found a bed on a real ward the next day. After significant testing which has left me so bruised it looks like I've been in a car crash, it was determined I'd had a small heart attack.
I mention all of this to show that despite the gloom and doom about the NHS it still alive and kicking. Yes - staffing levels are poor and ALL the staff work so hard doing things that most of us wouldn't choose to do ourselves. I evidenced abuse to a HCA which went on for over 3 nights. The patient concerned threatened physical violence. That poor HCA was in tears most nights. The patient should have been in a specialist facility - but there is no availability.

Much the same thing happened to me. I had two separate appointments a few weeks apart, for the same tests. Because one was for cardio and the other for HRT, they were done separately.

I know the NHS is a huge blessing. I worked in NHS settings for years and even then communication and coordination was a major problem.
When things go well it is a lifesaver. But when they don't it is the opposite.
I had the opposite experience yo loopylindy when I went to A&E with a heart attack ... I was sent home with a diagnosis of oesophogeal spasm. Two weeks later I was admitted to another hospital with the same symptoms, a proper diagnosis was made and a stent installed in my right coronary artery which was blocked to 94% in one place.

Dh had an appointment with the Diabetic doctor yesterday. Last week the appointment was with the diabetic nurse who gave us a good half hour of advice and checks.
Before we went I said to Dh ‘what else will the doctor tell us?’ . I was correct as he just asked how things were and that was that. 5 minutes at the most. Waste of everyone’s time.