Expensive blood pressure check

I'm one of the millions that the doctors have taking blood pressure tablets.

Now I get a repeat prescription for 6 months then I have to get it checked before I can get another 6 months prescription.

Now I went to make an appointment for a check, I've always had it done late afternoon as I start work early but finish at 4 pm.

This time its no go, I need to see a "health care something or other", nurses are too busy to do such things now.
Thing is these people only work in the mornings, (I should be so lucky).

I'll get you an early one the receptionist said, 8.30am, thats not early I said.

OK then how about 8.50am?????

My doctors surgery seems to be set up for people who dont work, in order to keep an 8.50am appointment I need to lose three hours work, and if I'm not there I dont get paid.
My Doctor was once amazed to find out that I'm actually one of his patients that has to pay for prescriptions.

I'm now thinking of making an appointment to actually see the doctor for a blood pressure check, and as such wasting his time doing menial tasks.

If he wants to know why I'm seeing him, I'll just say it was cheaper, ............ for me that is.:D

 

Why can`t the surgery sister check your blood pressure late afternoon, early evening? Why every 6 months?

 

Hiya Pete, obviously something is amiss that the doctor / nurse / whomever must do it, but can't you buy one of those thingies you put on your wrist and do it yourself on a regular basis ... we do ...

 

If I dont get it checked by those very important people that only work in the mornings I cant get any more prescriptions that I have to pay for.

Perhaps I should just lay down and die, it would be much easier.

 

Maybe you should move somewhere where life is a little less stressful ... :yess:

I know, I know .... xx

 

Sorry to hear of your problem Pete.Our practice nurse does a lot of those sorts of things now and we also have our own blood pressure kit we got from Boots when Mr Kandy first had high blood pressure,but he always finds it is low at home but as soon as he goes to the surgery his white coat syndrome kicks in and it goes sky high so she has to do it twice.

For fasting blood tests the surgery has 8am appointment slots so patients can get in there have the test and then get home for breakfast..

Hope you manage to get something sorted without having to resort to dying first...

 

Your right Pete, doctors dont seem to put themselves out for the working man.

As you say doctors seem to be quite astonished when you tell them you pay for your prescriptions.

i recently had to tell my doctor to take paracetamol off one of mine.

Im not paying over £7 for a box of paracetamol!!!

 

I too used to get my blood pressure medication in large batches but my surgery enforced a month at a time policy a couple of years or so ago. So instead of 4 prescription charges a year I now have to buy a prepayment card every year or pay 24 prescription charges p.a.

 

There should be absolutely no reason you can't request to see either a doctor or the practice nurse to get you BP checked, Pete. It's a service not the military. Stand up for your rights!

 

Well thanks for all the replies, nice to know I'm not thinking out of line.

Last night I looked up the practice website and found a "contact us" link which I just couldn't resist, told them about the problem.

I got a message today that they were trying to contact me, but I can never hear my phone ring at work, its too noisy.
They said they would call at 6pm.

Nothing as yet.

I must say my doc has been good about my prescriptions in the past, he usually gives me three, two monthly ones at a time, that way I only pay £7.30 for two months, apparently he is only supposed to issue one per month.
Am I right in thinking if I lived in Scotland or Wales I'd get them for nothing?

 

Prescriptions are free for everyone here in Wales. It used to cost me a small fortune for my meds before it was introduced.

 

He`d also have to find a practice willing to take him on as well.lol lol lol