I bet they weren't.............
I'm a type 1 so get my annual check-up at my local hospital rather than my gp practice.
I did raise it face to face and they were certainly surprised - if I get a response I will let you know.
I bet they weren't.............
I'm a type 1 so get my annual check-up at my local hospital rather than my gp practice.
My heart failure test include blood sugars and also the regular ECG .. cholesterol and a few others ... far better than the diabetes test .. that also includes cholesterol !!! the heart failure tests are more because of the heart meds I am on .. as they can mess up other organs. I keep an eye on my own sugar via a meter and my blood pressure also via a home meter.
I believe part of the reason is many people simply either don't respond to the letters, or make appointments and don't attend their reviews, thus wasting time and money in both cases.
If someone really has no intention of attending, at least they are cutting down the admin.
Personally, I do still take advantage of the services offered to me.
I think that generally the amount of "no shows" for both hospital and GP appointments is very high and you are right it does waste money and time which many people probably don't think about because there is no direct financial loss to the individual and remember that after 3 attempts the surgery can still claim their QOF points so they don't really lose out financially.
Looking at the proposal in simply financial terms the surgery can save time and money and still gain financially without having so many "no shows" - if I was a business making money which most surgeries are - I suppose that this would be the way to go - but is it in the best interests of the patient?
Well, I don't think opting out is the way to go, but if the individual has no intention of attending, the at least it becomes clear.
Whilst a letter may seem like nothing (for the three attempts), each 2nd class postage stamp is 55p, plus the costs of the paper and envelope, plus the time of the person printing and packaging them, not to mention creating the repeated mail merges.
The GP practice is allotted X amount of pounds per diabetic patient who has their check up and the boxes are ticked for the funding to be granted. The funding is also granted if a person does not wish to attend and states so in writing (hence the do not wish to attend slip on the letter)With respects I don't think you quite understand how this funding works in GP Practice but what I can say is that it may not go where you state.
You do realise that GP surgeries are private enterprises and hence the payments may just go into the GPs pockets.I always sign the opt out so the practice can claim the extra income. It's my choice not to attend thus I see no reason to deprive my GP practice of extra funding which could be used to help someone else.
Personally I don't care my GP is worth his weight in goldYou do realise that GP surgeries are private enterprises and hence the payments may just go into the GPs pockets.
I opt out as I am under the care of the hospital. I don't see the point in wasting an appointment with a GP that someone else can make use of.
The GP practice is allotted X amount of pounds per diabetic patient who has their check up and the boxes are ticked for the funding to be granted. The funding is also granted if a person does not wish to attend and states so in writing (hence the do not wish to attend slip on the letter)
The practice nurse at my surgery is a complete utter waste of space and unable to take a simple blood sample doesn't know what a carbohydrate is and does not want anything to do with them new fangled pump things --------- her words not mine. Personally I object to making a 14 mile round trip wasting my petrol and time seeing someone from the dark ages.
If you are Type 1 and all of your checks done at the hospital - then your GP should know this and not send you an appointment.
It still doesn't stop them sending out a letter
In October went to an NHS podiatrist for a diabetic foot check because my toes were feeling numb.
She didn't have a foot tickler. It had been ordered but not yet arrived.
She said I could have the test next time. I asked when that would be.
She said October 2017.
It's okay though. Toes are greatly improved now and other tests were fine. Annual diabetic check at GP surgery is early next year.
If I really wanted a toe tickler test they sell them ticklers on Amazon. The test diagram is on Diabetes UK site.
Perhaps it might be worth reminding them that they are wasting NHS public money, yours and mine as well - a public review on NHS Choices might change their ways.
She handed me the leaflet that said 'Low risk' on the front.Did you tell her that this was not acceptable and very unprofessional - it's your body and sometimes you have to remind people of this. A public review on the NHS Choices website can work wonders.