Appointments during Covid-19

[kleigh88]

I heard from the hospital in June who gave me an appointment for middle of July. Less than 2 weeks later I got a letter to say that diabetes appointments were being prioritised and because my blood glucose levels were in control then I would be seen in 6 months time. Problem for me is I haven't seen the diabetic team since May of last year when I was hospitalised due to being in DKA. Every appointment I've been due to go to since they have rearranged for another month or two. My blood glucose levels...where they get that I am controlling it well is beyond me as my HBA1C is sky high due to me suffering with diabullimia. Just feel like I have been lost in the system before COVID19 and the virus has just made everything worse

 

[jnk001]

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 rang my gp about bloods for annual review and was told they wern't doing the bloods or review

 

[Pauldae]

My annual appt at GP surgery was due in June, I was told this wouldn't take place despite my concerns with my blood msugar levels. No blood test possible either.

I was refused eye surgery this week due to high blood sugar levels, so suddenly I can have blood test done just hope I can also get to see my GP as well

 

[DavidDK]

In my NHS trust area unless it was an emergency all diabetic outpatient appointments have been conducted via telephone since lockdown began.

I understand most of the diabetes team at my NHS trust were coopted to treat C-19 patients (which makes sense given the supposed links between co-morbidities in diabetics and symptoms exhibited to date by C-19 patients who have been hospitalised).

I missed my first telephone consultation with my consultant, but managed to speak to them a few weeks ago. I did speak to my DSN in the meantime though.

The phone appointments were for as long as I needed them to be.

My consultant has arranged for me to have a blood test. In my NHS trust now it is no longer necessary to show up at the bloods department with a piece of paper; you just need to turn up and when it is your turn mention your name and patient or NHS number and they find the "paperwork" on their computers.

It is taking a bit of getting used to having a conversation over the phone with the DSN/Specialist rather than face to face.

My consultant and DSN seem pleased with my current progress so far and they and the DSN can keep tabs on my diabetes management via Librelink.

At the moment my doctor's surgery is discouraging patients from visiting surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. My diabetes care is handled by my DSN and consultant and I can email and telephone them if I need to so it isn't an issue. I am signed up with my doctor's surgery for online prescriptions, so ordering repeat medication is easy. I just need to pick up my repeat prescriptions from my chosen pharmacy.

 

[Norfolkmell]

It’s all very different for everyone know. My eye consultant wrote in April today that despite his last letter saying I needed to see him every two years re glaucoma and cupped discs mainly to stop opticians referring me when I have my eyes tested, he had now decided to take me off his list and just to get re referred should anything change.
We moved in May new GP surgery said we would need to see practice nurse once Covid was all over. Was rung by dispensing nurse to go through my medications and was told I’d have to come off pain killers and asthma meds in the winter and I wouldn’t be allowed strips and lancets. I told her chapter and verse re the need and that I would take it up with Matt Hancock. Lo and behold they appeared in the delivery from Boots. And the next month and every month since. Biggest problem is that despite not asking them too Boots have taken it upon themselves to put in my repeat requests so I get all 37 items every month.
My medications request facility has been removed from online yet Michael’s hasn’t. Rang the surgery to speak to the practice manager three weeks ago and am still waiting! How I wish my previous GP could have moved with us.

 

[Anncdw]

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 am type 2 and recently had a blood test and foot check in a tent in the surgery car park ! Surprisingly ok , all precautions were made and I felt ok the nurse phoned 2 weeks later ( we talked for about 20-30 mins ) and I had a blood pressure test in the surgery the next day - v well organised .
I rarely get to see a doc anyway , and I have never seen a specialist - my nurse is super !

 

[Anncdw]

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!!

My surgery have a sort of market stall by the door and they hand out such things as specimen bottles - much quicker than usual !

 

[nailchewer]

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**

Nothing at all from my GP practice since February. I have phoned no reply so I wrote and no reply x twice. However my request to correct my script, that the Nurse Consultant amended by reducing and halving my medication for test strips and lancets, in error, when synchronising my script for home delivery took 16 weeks to correct. So I was unable to test. Also I begun Victoza that week so it was rather scary as I hypo’d a few times. Ended up buying them
Online. I feel abandoned in terms of care it’s been 6 months since I began this new regime and not one follow up. Luckily I’m a survivor!

 

[videoman]

The contacts I have had are by telephone ,both diabetic and COPD and Kindey clinics and the blood site has moved out of the hospital and has moved to a room at Argyle soccer ground. Easy to park

 

[agwagw]

My annual review in April was cancelled, haven't heard a thing since. I order my prescriptions online and they keep coming.

 

[suzyjane]

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

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 to phone up Diabetic clinic when lockdown was on. I was just told I would be put on waiting list to get seen. I have not had any bloods for year and a half as I was on an annual appointment. My gp will not accept patients, and will not take any bloods at the moment either. I’m starting to freak out about what to do!!!

 

[LindiePops]

I have a few questions written down, so I won't take up too much time on the phone. But it is more the bloods and eye screening. So hopefully there may be a solution.

I had my annual hospital Diabetic appt dealt with by telephone consultation in July. Had my bloods done at my GP surgery the week before and hospital gave me instructions on how to upload my Blood Glucose Monitor results to their secure system. It all worked fine and the only difference was that they will be seeing me again quicker than usual (6 months). Guessing this is because they couldn't do weight or foot checks. Just last week I had my Ophtalmology appt at the hospital. Masks worn at all times (thankfully) and every precaution taken re social distancing in the waiting area It went fine too

 

[aft]

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**

 

[Sheepybob]

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 communication I have had, until I rang them today, was letters cancelling appointments. Rang about the retinopathy check and was told that they were all cancelled and I'd be offered an appointment when they start again, whenever that is!

 

[Mr_Pot]

A few weeks ago my daughter had her breasts examined in a tent in the car park. This was the surgery car park and it was by a doctor not a random encounter! I think doctors imagine themselves to be in MASH.

 

[aft]

I

I had to phone up Diabetic clinic when lockdown was on. I was just told I would be put on waiting list to get seen. I have not had any bloods for year and a half as I was on an annual appointment. My gp will not accept patients, and will not take any bloods at the moment either. I’m starting to freak out about what to do!!!

Have phoned for appointment but not able too , got a phone call with diabetic nurse next week which might enable me to get blood test . Have written to my Mp which you all should do as surgery said its the Government not allowing normal appointments ,mine replied stating he was taking up the issue on my behalf .

 

[Jaylee]

I've had ophthalmology stuff cancelled till whenever..
I had my A1c done last December saw another DSN & Endo just before lockdown. They had nothing on the records about me.
The Endo studied Xdrip on my phone. To find out where I was at. Disapointing to be frank.
A couple of weeks ago, a nurse rang whilst I was at work to make a phone appointment with an Endo.. I passed on the opportunity offering the valuable time to someone in more need.

My wife had an appointment during lockdown (non D.) heard nothing. Showed up. & the guy said "you shouldn't be here. But since you are...." Got seen..

 

[JohnR127]

I was called in for a blood sample which was taken in the car in a council car park and handed a container for a urine sample. The consultation with the diabetes nurse did not materialise and in a text message will take place "in the future". I also got shingles and pneumococcal vaccinations in the same car park. I did not have to leave the car as I am a one legged cripple. I like the drive-through service. The retinal photograph has also been postponed indefinitely.

On the other hand I was called to the UHCW for an ultrasound scan of my bypass graft which was found to have shrunk to 10% of its original size so was kept in the hospital for an urgent in-patient angioplasty. I have now been discharged after a successful operation and tested again a month later to check that the graft was functioning correctly.

So some things are starting to function but others seem to be postponed indefinitely such as monitoring of my amputation and prosthesis.

 

[Steve Fisher]

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’m being told that ANY type 1 who is over 50 or obese should be still shielding. I also have had 2 transplants of Islets and take immunisation meds therefore ALL my hospital appointments have been cancelled until further notice, although I’ve just been to my local Health Practice for my first Hb1ac since before the lockdown started

 

[Looby 2]

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 was contacted from my surgery to have bloods done and then sent an appointment for a telephone consultation with the diabetic nurse.