Appointments during Covid-19

Rose22

Well-Known Member
Messages
282
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello All, has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all? I haven't heard anything, I called up and heard it is now phone appointments, but i think I need some bloods done, anyone managed to get blood work done? Or get in contact with their specialist/doctor? How informative/long are the phone appointments? **This is not a moan just a questions, I understand doctors are under a lot of strain and therefore have more important duties at this moment in time**
I had a letter from my gp saying my 6 month hba1c was due and I had blood test no problems. I then had text about my consultant appointment that had been cancelled due to Covid and it was telephone appointment. So from nothing at all for 4 months it was all at once, and hugely appreciated. Hope you hear soon!
 

Daphne917

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,320
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Our surgery won't give out urine sample containers, but will accept it in anything, margarine carton, diet coke bottle etc, etc. Not sterile to say the very least. According to dr, someone even brought it in a plastic washing up glove!!! When I was told by gp to take one to hospital they wouldn't accept it in a washed out pill bottle, and shook their head in disbelief. Now buy the containers online!!
I got my GP surgery to post mine to me when I needed to provide a sample for a hospital appt about 3 months ago.
 
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Hopeful34

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,723
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Thanks, but it's not to do with covid, it's been a policy for a couple of years or so.:( Just had long acting insulin taken off my repeats yet again, as well as other items that I don't order every month, but need to order occasionally. Always happens in July/August. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 

JRT

Well-Known Member
Messages
256
I have been asked to phone up surgery regarding diabetes review. My chiropody appointment has been postponed, but not sure whether due to general situation or chiropodist. Other than that they have been very helpful when called,phone consultations with GP etc. They are very good at keeping us informed about what's happening by text and email. This morning I was sent a link to a video explaining how the surgery works now but emphasising to get in touch if needed. They have streamlined service with adjacent pharmacy. Oh and free urine pots. Guess I'm lucky! I dont know how they will run flu jab clinics, it's always a very smooth process but whatever time you go is busy. I havent heard anything about diabetic eye check yet but that doesn't come from surgery.
 

KK123

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,967
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I think I must be extremely lucky reading some of the responses. My Consultant sent a letter detailing a telephone appointment and a blood test form arrived just before that. The hospital are still doing blood tests, straight in and out. I had my telephone appointment and he said hopefully we will see you in person soon. It didn't seem that complicated so I wonder why the majority aren't doing it.
 

Mrs T 123

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,800
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
My retinopathy appointment at the hospital has been cancelled twice now from April, July and is now re-arranged for November. Not heard anything at all from doctors surgery since they phoned me in March just before lockdown to cancel my yearly bloods and review. I have received an email from specsavers asking me to get in touch with them for my next appointment which I think was due in June.
 

Jbicheno

Well-Known Member
Messages
115
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I’ve not heard a thing about my eye test, due in June, except to say it was cancelled. My blood test and DN appointments are not due until December.
 
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lindapick

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Fish spiders
Hello All, has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all? I haven't heard anything, I called up and heard it is now phone appointments, but i think I need some bloods done, anyone managed to get blood work done? Or get in contact with their specialist/doctor? How informative/long are the phone appointments? **This is not a moan just a questions, I understand doctors are under a lot of strain and therefore have more important duties at this moment in time**
I should have had my blood test for my diabetes in July been told to ring in September
 
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Mr_Pot

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,573
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I contacted my local surgery this morning because I am overdue for my annual diabetes review. I used e-consult which is a web based enquiry service they support. I received an email back in an hour to say the doctor had arranged a blood test at the local hospital's walk-in clinic. She said I could also arrange a review if I wanted one, which I don't.
This morning I drove the 4 miles to the local hospital for my blood test, which wasn't as efficient as my use of e-consult. They open at 9.00 so I arrived at 8.45 to find there were already 15-20 people in the waiting room and no seats left. Faced with at least an hour's wait in a room full of people, I gave up and went home and came back at 11.45. This time there were only 2 people in front of me, so it went ok except that my test was no longer a fasting one. Previously I have walked to my local surgery and a nurse has taken my blood in a 5 minute appointment, so I hope things are back to normal for my next test in 6 months time.
After I left the hospital I realised a problem with their Covid precautions. The nurse sat on my left hand side to take my blood, on my right hand side was a large fan on a stand making a very welcome cooling breeze. It occurred to me afterwards that the fan blew across my face and into the nurse's face! Of course we were both wearing masks, but only the rather useless paper type.
 

JohnEGreen

Master
Messages
13,231
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Tripe and Onions
When shielding was officially in force a nurse from the GP's surgery came to my home to draw the blood sample for my test but since it was stopped or paused as they put it I have had to go to the surgery I had my temperature checked before going in and had to wear a mask the nurse who took the bloods wore a mask and there was hand sanitizer available.
 

Nic39

Member
Messages
6
My annual review was due In march. After pushing for bloods to be done I was finally allowed in july but had to go to the local walk in centre to have them taken as the doctors surgery are not doing blood tests. No other checks done so assuming these wont be checked this year. My eye appt at the hospital was cancelled in april but did take place in july. Next appt at the eye clinic is now jan.
 

Hopeful34

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,723
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Just had a letter from hospital to say diabetes beginning of September will be a phone one. Am quite happy with that. Phlebotomy department for outpatient clinics now in outpatient department, (separate from inpatient phlebotomy I assume), which makes good sense if it's different staff. So although I won't go to the hospital for clinic appointment, ironically I'll be in exactly the same department in the hospital for my blood test a few days earlier.
Eye appointment was due in May, but long backlog of patients, so no idea when that will be. Would rather it was now when we have only had one positive Covid case in the last month, hey ho probably not going to happen.
 

Lorra1ne

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello All, has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all? I haven't heard anything, I called up and heard it is now phone appointments, but i think I need some bloods done, anyone managed to get blood work done? Or get in contact with their specialist/doctor? How informative/long are the phone appointments? **This is not a moan just a questions, I understand doctors are under a lot of strain and therefore have more important duties at this moment in time**
 

Lorra1ne

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My appointment cancelled in July, need bloods etc done, and as on pump ment to be seen 6 monthly, but have never heard from my clinic, was told by another local person that should receive a letter/email saying if having a phone/video call, but only if they feel required, but I have heard nothing which am not totally surprised.
 

TerriH

Active Member
Messages
34
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Noise, hooligan drivers and most of all rude, selfish and totally inconsiderate people.
Hello All, has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all? I haven't heard anything, I called up and heard it is now phone appointments, but i think I need some bloods done, anyone managed to get blood work done? Or get in contact with their specialist/doctor? How informative/long are the phone appointments? **This is not a moan just a questions, I understand doctors are under a lot of strain and therefore have more important duties at this moment in time**

The only thing I have heard is about the cancellation of ALL my diabetic appointments including retinopathy. The health service in Wales is in total chaos and has been for a long time despite COVID 19.
 
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello All, has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all? I haven't heard anything, I called up and heard it is now phone appointments, but i think I need some bloods done, anyone managed to get blood work done? Or get in contact with their specialist/doctor? How informative/long are the phone appointments? **This is not a moan just a questions, I understand doctors are under a lot of strain and therefore have more important duties at this moment in time**

Hi I have managed to get my bloods done last week and had a call with the nurse after to discuss them, this was at my doctors surgery though. My hospital appointment I haven't had an appointment for 2 years now as they are so far behind with apts. They did ring and ask me if I wanted a telephone call the next day but that would have been without any bloods so no true accuracy as to what was going on. I declined for now as didn't see the point.
 

TwoRivers

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Obesity.
Yes I have heard twice -- though thanks to low carb diet, I have not had a diabetic sugar level for approaching three years and have been off all medication for nearly three years too. I had a blood test in the local hospital in mid-March just before lockdown and it was apparently one of the best I have ever had. Despite that I got a call from the local GP's office to come into the surgery for another test and an annual review. I pointed out that I am over 70 and this might not be totally essential. After that I did not hear from them again, but now have been summoned for the annual eye test in an unusual place which (as I don't drive) would cost me a taxi fare of over £50 to get to. And I am still trying to self-isolate as much as possible, It seems that no matter how low my blood sugar levels are or how much I keep my weight down, the NHS will always regard me as diabetic. I don't mind that in normal times, but surely staying clear of the virus should be the priority at the moment if there are no problems?
 

Jacquihogan

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I had mine done this week. My blood was taken in a tent in the surgery car park by a nurse in full PPE. Call from the Diabetes Dr the next day to discuss results (which were good). Slightly concerned by the speed of response, but Dr said she had a spare slot so she called me rather than leaving it to the nurse. Pretty good service!

The only downside is that they couldn't do my BP or check my feet. But I now have a BP meter at home (surprisingly cheap) and check my own feet regularly.