General Chat

Today was the first time in over a year that I've tried to make a doctor's appointment.
I have a failing kidney (I only have one kidney), and regularly see a Renal consultant, or nurse, either in person or a visual phone call.

Last week I had a couple of blood tests - one for the renal unit, which I have monthly, and a 'genome' blood test - because they think I may have a fairly newly discovered genetic kidney disease.

Today, I had a phone call with a renal nurse. My white blood cells show an infection - I was told to see the doctor ASAP, and get some antibiotics.
So I phone the surgery. I'm 7th in line - and explain the situation.
They can't make an appointment immediately, I have to go through 'triage', which may take 4 days, and the doctor may phone me back.
I re-iterate the importance of the antibiotics - I'm also going on holiday tomorrow!
It seems I can phone at 8am tomorrow.
This won't guarantee a doctor's appointment, but I may get to see a nurse!
OR, I could call 111, which seems totally inappropriate.

So I have an expert telling me what I need, and when, a receptionist telling me I have to jump through hoops to confirm I'm ill.

Quite frankly, I don't care if I see the doctor, I just want the antibiotics!
The 'problem' with my kidney disease is, I can't feel it I don't feel particularly ill - but that could be because of the drugs I take.

I have another problem with this surgery.
The consultant prescribes drugs, a letter is sent to my doctor, who, or rather his admin, is meant to put it on my prescription.
I was put on a new drug 3 months ago, Today, I ran out.
I wondered why I hadn't ordered it with the others last week
Realised, today, it isn't on my prescription!!

Do you have an Urgent Care facility near you? There is one actually at our local hospital right next door to the A & E department.

They are really good. You can just walk in anytime and they ask what your problem is at reception and then decide if you go to the waiting area for Urgent Care or if you need A&E. The Urgent Care doctors can prescribe anti-biotics if you need them.

Our own doctor's surgery is the same as yours. Takes forever to get an appointment.

Hope you get sorted so you can go on holiday with all the medication you need.

Kath. x

There is an urgent care centre at the hospital - open only at night time during the week. I don't drive, and it's 2 bus journeys away.
I'll just have to try the 8am phone call, and hope they don't insist I get there in half an hour!

You may find that the nurse can prescribe, or even a pharmacist, if you have one attached to your surgery.
Triage shouldn't take 4 days, they are supposed to triage quite quickly, and if you tell them how urgent it is, they might even send a prescription directly to the pharmacy for you to collect the medication.

I phoned dead on 8am, and got a response!
The phone was 'echoing' so my speech was a bit faltering - which, I think made me sound really ill.
Anyway, they will call me back with an appointment.
I asked if it will be this morning, as, rather than just staying with my sister, I said she wants to take me to hers to 'look after me'.

Under normal circumstances, a bit of phlegm wouldn't bother me, but knowing it could affect my kidney, puts a different slant on it,

Did Kathleen mean a walk in centre, sometimes found in shopping centres?

I think the nurse should have emailed the surgery.

We can no longer ring in or book on line for the doctors. We have to complete an online form during surgery hours. They seem to phone back quite quickly.

Met someone the other day from a nearby surgery who was so relieved to get a fast call back for a chest infection.

I hope Maggie has been sorted and will be off to her sisters.

Thinking about it, I feel sure that our receptionists would have sent the doctor a message - they often do this and then you get a ping from the pharmacy to say they have the prescription. Not tried it since they changed the system.

Added 16.20
Just learnt the surgery computers went down on Thursday, possibly until yesterday. Goodness knows what happened to their emergencies.

I think that was general as ours was down as well