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A bit frustrated with the NHS

R

ROE100

Well-Known Member
Messages
77
As the title says I'm bit frustrated with the NHS at the moment. Not really looking for suggestions more just needing a bit of a moan.

Currently seen by consultant at hospital for my diabetes so all good there, however Dr (surgery) is being the difficult party at the moment.

I have visted the Dr for a few things over the last two months of which I've had blood pressure done, weight, height, feet pulses done as had pains in leg but not diabectic issue it related to a pulled back musle. I know I still need the prick toes thing done. This as resulted in me able to continue with my contraceptive pill and reassured that my leg issue would clear it self which is how.

All sounds great however they are still insisting I go for a 'medication review' - so pressing the doctor at my last appointment re blood pressure check Dr said yes still require it. Dr advised it is an half hour appointment where it is not done by a doctor or a specialist in diabetes so you don't need to speak about the diabetes (as I had said I only discuss this with the consultant at the hospital). The Dr went on the say they look at your feet, diet, no mention of medication.

I explained I've had all my medications reviewed at the previous appointment so what is the point of this long appoinment. Didn't say this but felt how can some talk about diet and not talk about my diabetes condition. So I sense I will have my repeat scripts reduce or delayed until I waste my time and NHS time &NHS money having a pointess appointment which is about lifestyle choices rather than medication. Or am I being a bit over the top.

Note all bloods are done for my diabectic appointment at drop in centre before my appoinment at the hospital, I have my annual eye test and I am compliant with testing and taking my drugs as agreed with the doctor/Consultant. I also get letters every few months from the surgery saying I must make get my bloods done and have a review when I have told them I already have this done by the hospital so gettung the surgery to repeat the test and have a meeting is wasting time and money for the NHS.

Sorry for the moan

T1 diabetic since the mid 1980's
 
@ROE100 I hate it when I get the dreaded medication review from the Drs surgery......I go in, moan a LOT, get everything on repeat and leave. I am in with the nurse usually for around 2 mins
 
Thanks for the reply - I kept thinking am I being unresonable but the NHS keeps harpping on about wasting money and state if you miss an appointment ( which I have not) costs the NHS £200/£250 I think may be wrong - so this meeting/appointment is a waste of money and no benefit accept the Dr surgey can tick a box and get money from the NHS.

Sorry ranted on again.
 
Oh this is one of my pet hates too.
A couple of years back I had my medication reviewed during a routine visit. Sound sensible doesn't it? Apparently not. When I next asked for a repeat prescription I was told I couldn't have one until I had a review. I explained that I had seen a doc who had reviewed my meds just a month ago. I was told that wasn't a Medication Review. So I had to go back and waste the docs time.

The NHS is great but the admin is appalling.
 
At my old doctors they wanted a medication review every 6 months, at that point the only medication I was on was insulin. Each time I went was a waste of time, one time my mum came with me because I was ill and they wouldn't let me have my prescription and the whole appointment the doctor was talking about how we'd had our window frames painted! other times it was "are you planning on starting a family?" "No, never" "well if you are it's important to do x, y and z blah blah blah"
 
I think I must be lucky, when I get my diabetic review done at my docs (once a year), that counts as a medication review for everything (admittedly the only non diabetes stuff I am on is Omeprazole), this could be because my DN is a prescribing DN though so she can sort out prescriptions by herself.
 
I think they have targets and financial incentives to treat diabetics in surgery and do meds reviews for those with chronic conditions!
I wasted their time and mine when called in for the meds review. e.g.
Dr - we need to talk about your cholesterol results
Me - I have had this discussion with your predecessor .....(please see my file)
Dr - can you tell me why you don't want to take a statin
Me - because I do not feel they will make me live any longer and don't want to risk the side effects. I have a great trig/hdl ratio....
Dr - okay.. fair enough

I can now get all my meds for type 1 needs via my phone app so I hope not to have to darken their doors in the near future. It always makes me feel down sitting in a waiting room with miserable and ill people/crying kids.
 
Yep I think its all about the money and showing they have ticked the right box, not about what the patients actually needs.
I was watching my blood pressure, no one else seemed bothered. In the end I ended up saying I need my BP checked, then its 'oh it is a bit high', that box is ticked and you get reviewed each year and medication, which is fine, but the GP, miserable Morag made out they had picked it up.
I have just had an hour of my life wasted by a GP who I have never seen before, who told me I last saw you in October, wrong. He then went on to tell me the bigest load of rubbish, which I checked just to make sure when I got home, and yes it was wrong.
I know there are good GP's, but I think they are no longer allowed to use their discretion in what the practice provides to patients and how they deliver it, so they are using time up reaching targets.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/investment/gp-contract/
https://www.gponline.com/summary-changes-gp-contract-2019-20/article/1524360
 
I feel I not going to get out of this one as never had one since moving to this surgery in 1999., but I going to try (don't like to waste money a too tight Yorkshire person).

However I think I am going to predict the conversation may not be in the same order

Hello you are here for your medical review
Yes
Lets look at your feet - yes no issues there - please note I know I need a full foot review so no issues on this one
Great
So you are diabectic - hows thats going and issues?
I'm seen by the hospital but have a look at my HBI1C results and all my conversations are with them thank you.
Hows your control?
As I said I am seen by the hospital and also occasionaly seen a dietian so not discussing this today - are you an expert in diabetes? - may not say this as a bit confrontational
Statins - you aren't on any - we need to discuss this?
I have already discussed this with the consultant and Dr here at the surgery and i ahve declined them thank you. My cholestrol is fine
Ok how about your diet - you may need to loose a bit of weight
Yes I am fully aware I may need to loose some weight but my diet is fine
Well what do you eat?
Pretty good get the vegables in and about 1500 calaries in
What about exercise?
Not much but aware I need to do more
Do you drink?
No
Do you smoke?
No
I see you have had your blood pressure done so that being looked at. Contraceptive - thought about the coil?
Yes and the answer is no don't want thank you
Do you have any questions?
No but this was a pointless meeting I have gain nothing from it and what has the surgery gain from this meeting which is new? (don't say this accept some easy money) Can you now remove this medication review note on my records. Oh and see you again in a year for another pointless meeting!

I'll post back if I do have to go to the meeting.

Any body predict anything else
 
Just a thought has anyone worked out what these extra costs of these double appointments and reviews to the diabectic budget they will be associated with.

I know some people aren't compliant with their medications & do have issues so forcing them to come in for a review may be a good thing. But in theory if every T1 diabectic who is seen by a hospital and also a Dr surgery to get repeat sripts what are the wasted costs for the NHS. I once tried to work it out but you get conflicting costs on what an appointment costs and also you have no idea as a total how many T1 are seen by a hospital and a Dr surgery.

But I feel if I went for an easy life and did everyhing my surgery asked every year I would waste the following
2 appointments - One for after blood test with DN at Dr surgery & one for the medical review
1 blood test not required as already done for hospital appointment

I'm ranting/moaning again - stop it ROE100.

Sign off now.
 
Someone convinced a politician that we all take lots of medications we don't need - a few stories in the media about people handing in carrier bags full of unused prescription drugs helped. So they ordered the NHS to sort this out.
And the compulsory annual medication checks came in.
A lot of wasted money across govt is caused by someone catching a Ministers fleeting attention, often helped by vested interests via the media.

I take pregabalin, as prescribed via a Pain clinic at the hospital, then passed onto my GP with clear instructions.
As of 2019 my GP is no longer allowed to let me order this with my monthly repeats. They have to print out a paper copy, physically sign it, then I have to organise getting it to the pharmacy who deliver all my prescriptions - no exception for disabled patients but luckily my small independent pharmacy took over collecting it for me.
 
Hi. Do you have a PPG (Patient Participation Group) at your surgery? We have one and I'm a member. You could raise your concerns about the surgery inefficient process with the PPG (or the Practice Manager). My lovely DN authorises my scripts for 12 months and automatically renews this at my annual review. I therefore never have a separate Meds Reviews. I'm afraid your surgery is being rather silly.
 
Daibell - yes was preparing a letter to the pratice manager but the slight difference and I think this is why I am told I have to have this appointment is I don't see my doctor practice except for the contraceptive pill and now blood pressure so as per the computer it says I have to be seen and the practice wants this easy money.
 
I don't take any medication for diabetes, but have take more some thyroid meds for getting towards 2 years now. I know I have had a medication review, because when I went on to order my repeat. That said, there had been discussions with my GP every 6-8weeks as we had been working on titration to an effective dose, so you could say I'd had a review every time we talk d (usually by phone).

If I am continued on a drug I am trialling at the moment, the process might be different next time around, as it is a bit eye-watering in terms of cost.

@ROE100 , I'd second the suggestion to raise this with your Practise Manager, and/or the chair of your PPG.
 
I have had exactly the same experiences as above and yes, it can be frustrating when your GP is reiterating questions already asked by the Consultants and is clearly no 'expert'. However, I also think how good our NHS is and if we are having 'double' appointments then so what, at least they are willing to see us in person and discuss our health. They must see so many people (diabetes or not) and it would be impossible for them to know the ins & outs of every individual's entire medical history. Yes they do have a check list, blood pressure/cholesterol which must surely be applied to every patient and then the obvious ones for diabetes. I know it's hard but I do try to bite my tongue when something daft is said and repeat in my head 'They're doing their best, they're doing their best'......
 
My GP wants a review every year. I get them to do the blood tests because it's handy having another hba1c (I make sure it's done between hospital appointments) then I tend to cancel the follow up appointment with the nurse at the GP surgery. That's a waste of time.
 
Hi All

Email went off this week and just had a call from the Doctor - I am glad to say I will not be having a meeting for a 'medication' review as resolved over the phone. Yeah! - however a bit sad I couldn't go through my prediction of questions but saved the NHS an appointment.

But just a note for thanks for everyones thoughts and comments to this thread.
 
I once went to get my repeat prescription filled when the pharmacist decided he needed to do a meds and lifestyle review, after telling me how and when to take meds that I had been taking for years, the conversation went as follows:
Pharmacist- Do you smoke ?
Me (impatient by now)- No, I gave up years ago
Pharmacist- Do you drink alcohol ?
Me- Yes, I also work bloody hard, should I quit that as well?
The interview kind of went downhill after that , on the plus side though he's never asked to do another review since.
 
I get caught like that too however, in the pharmacists defence, when I was asked did I know why I was on these meds etc I was told that it is surprising how many people automatically take meds without knowing why.
 
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