LATEST MOAN FROM YOU AND ME - 2022

Goodness, I am pleased I live here.

 

I think things have improved at my surgery, phone contact is still awful but if you don't mind standing outside in a queue at 8am for 40 minutes you can sometimes get an appointment on the day.
I don't think you can make appointments in advance any more.

But they do let you in the door now after 8.30 and they have done away with all the sculking behind half open windows.

 

Out of interest when I was at the hospital they had done away with nearly all covid precautions, no masks no screens etc.
The only thing that I had to do was have a covid test 24 hours before.

Out patients don't even have to do that.

 

You still have o wear masks at medical facilities (including doctors offices) and nursing homes here, even the staff, nowhere else unless you choose to do so. I had to wear one having the MRI recently ... they just swapped mine with a nose clip for one without!

 

We don't have any problems seeing anyone at our local surgery. I had the results from my latest endoscopy on Monday through the post, had a phone consultation on Friday with an appointment made to see the GP this coming Tuesday to discuss increasing my medication. They informed me that another endoscopy appointment will be made for November, this procedure might be every 6 months now. So, no issues at our surgery, but some of the other local practises are the same as others are experiencing.

 

That's kind of what 111 is doing.

If they think necessary they tell you to go to A&E at a certain time.
I think they can give out prescriptions as well.

 

The problem here in Scotland is that each health board doesn't have access to the other's information. My wife is a Cancer patient and because we moved health boards the new health board is sending her for repeat tests (not that we mind that) as they don't appear to have access to those done previously. She keeps getting appointments from Fife despite constantly phoning them and telling them we moved, then she has to contact Lothian and they change to an appointment here.

 

It's getting to the point where if you are actually ill you side track the GP and just call 111.
No wonder A&E departments are stretched.

 

A few years pre-Covid my surgery used to have a walk in Flu jab on a Saturday, well they changed that to appointment only (they would text you)
I waited and waited for a text and as it was coming up to November I went and had a Flu jab at the local Chemist in town.
Later I had a letter from my surgery stating that they were disappointed that I had the Flu jab in Ramsgate Chemist and did I know that they get paid for each injection and with this money it helps keep the surgery going

 

The problem is that you only really get A&E at hospitals, so a bit few and far between.

There was a move to start building small medical centres that did minor surgeries in towns but somehow that's not really happening since covid.
I think its all a staffing problem really, you can put up buildings but if you cant staff it its pointless.

Nighting gale hospitals come to mind.

 

Our surgery when you phone, You get the Dr advising,PRESS ONE please tell our young receptionist what is exactly wrong, (ie spots on your willy or a rash on you fairy bits) Usually a young woman or sometimes a male asks the questions and decides if you need an appointment LOL