Advice please

[TwoRivers]

I hope this doesn't sound feeble but I need some advice about what I should do. In November I had a blood test in my local hospital for the half yearly meeting with the HCP. I duly went to and attended the appointment with her. She was bowled over to discover I had lost around 20 kg thanks to the low carbohydrate diet and ...er...that was it. She didn't examine my feet and told me that the hospital never sent the blood test results. It seemed it was up to me whether to do anything about this or not. I had another blood test envelope (this time from a consultant) and went in to the blood taking department in the hospital again in December. And...er...that's it.
So far again no news either from the consultant (is he still on holiday?) though I wrote to him by email before Christmas or my GP's surgery. Having had regular tests outside the country where you get a print out of all the results, sometimes within hours, this is infuriating. I think I am doing well. But I don't know. And if they ever do get around to finding the results, can I ask for an online version giving them in full. (I have some kidney issues which affect my diet. And as a result of the diet, I have reached a point where I have stopped requiring insulin. BS 4.9 this morning for example without insulin. But it would be helpful to know what my HbA1c is. I have no idea despite having had two blood tests.)
A further background detail:. A year ago the consultant recommended that I see a diabetic consultant. This was before the the LCHF diet when things were gloomy and some months after I had had a heart attack caused by very high levels of blood sugar about which I was given no advice about how to deal with. As a I result I see a different GP but the one I am seeing now overruled the meeting with a consultant. So I turned for advice instead to Diabetes.co.uk and am well satisfied! Any practical suggestions about how to proceed? Obviously I want to stay on the right side of my GP and his staff as I cannot change them. Our surgery has a 'very good rating' by the way and the staff are generally very pleasant.

Second, I am about to finish a now obsolete make of Accu-check blood glucose monitor. My doctor prescribed Jazz and I bought also bought a Codefree monitor. Both give substantially higher readings than the Accu-Chek does and since it was basically pretty accurate at showing when I was having a hypo or close to one when I still took Lantos and Novo Rapid, I prefer it. But cost points in the other direction. Any comments or advice?

 

[Bluetit1802]

There is clearly some form of non-communication between your hospital and your GP surgery. As your GP is responsible for your diabetes care, I don't understand why you were sent to the hospital to have your diabetes check bloods drawn. Why didn't you have them done at the GP surgery?

 

[Prem51]

So far again no news either from the consultant (is he still on holiday?) though I wrote to him by email before Christmas or my GP's surgery. Having had regular tests outside the country where you get a print out of all the results, sometimes within hours, this is infuriating. I think I am doing well. But I don't know. And if they ever do get around to finding the results, can I ask for an online version giving them in full.
But it would be helpful to know what my HbA1c is. I have no idea despite having had two blood tests.

Any practical suggestions about how to proceed? Obviously I want to stay on the right side of my GP and his staff as I cannot change them. Our surgery has a 'very good rating' by the way and the staff are generally very pleasant.

Any comments or advice?

Your medical records and HbA1c results should be accessible online since April 2016. You say your surgery has a 'very good' rating, so they will probably have online access. You do need to apply for the access. They might require you to complete a request form and perhaps provide photo id.
If they do not have online access you can request a printout of the results.

 

[Prem51]

There is clearly some form of non-communication between your hospital and your GP surgery. As your GP is responsible for your diabetes care, I don't understand why you were sent to the hospital to have your diabetes check bloods drawn. Why didn't you have them done at the GP surgery?

My GP surgery doesn't do blood tests now. They refer me to a local health clinic for the blood tests. I guess it is cheaper.

 

[TwoRivers]

There is clearly some form of non-communication between your hospital and your GP surgery. As your GP is responsible for your diabetes care, I don't understand why you were sent to the hospital to have your diabetes check bloods drawn. Why didn't you have them done at the GP surgery?

There is certainly a form of non-communication. Several reasons for getting it done in the hospital. It is a walk-in arrangement and much easier. Second I have deep veins and frankly the staff in the surgery just can't manage it. I have had some horrible experiences. Third, most of my blood test envelopes come from the kidney consultant not my GP. It is quite usual to get an envelope to hand over at a local hospital.

 

[TwoRivers]

Your medical records and HbA1c results should be accessible online since April 2016. You say your surgery has a 'very good' rating, so they will probably have online access. You do need to apply for the access. They might require you to complete a request form and perhaps provide photo id.
If they do not have online access you can request a printout of the results.

Can you tell me how I go about requesting this?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Can you tell me how I go about requesting this?

You need to pop down to the surgery and tell the receptionist you wish to register for on-line test results. Don't be fobbed off if she says she's never heard of this service. Push to speak to the practice manager if necessary. She should give you a form to fill in, examine your photo ID, and pass it to a GP to authorise. You will be given a code number and details of the website.

It seems the kidney consultant's department isn't passing on the blood test results to your GP, and probably isn't required to. It is like poking your eyes out trying to get results from hospitals, and in many areas the 2 computer systems are not synchronised. In my area the hospital computer can see all GP records but the GP computer cannot see hospital records unless the hospital passes them on. Your GP should be referring you for blood tests for diabetes, and if he did that he would get the results. Whoever refers gets the results.

 

[TwoRivers]

He did refer me for the November test. I think you describe the mismatch situation exactly. But why is it left to the patient to chase these things up? I tried talking to the hospital and got nowhere.

 

[Pinkorchid]

Can you tell me how I go about requesting this?

You can apply to have your records online so your surgery needs to give you a form with a password unique to you then you can register online with something like Patient Access...you should get a choice it is not managed by the surgeries. Don't be surprised though if you do this and find you can only make appointments and request repeat medication. A lot of us who have done it do not get any more than that. Apparently it is down to our own GP practises how much they allow us to see online. I can't get my blood test results on mine but I have to phone up or go to the surgery for my results

 

[Bluetit1802]

He did refer me for the November test. I think you describe the mismatch situation exactly. But why is it left to the patient to chase these things up? I tried talking to the hospital and got nowhere.

Hospitals are a force to be reckoned with. As the GP referred you for the November tests then he should have received the results and you should be able to have a print out without any hassle. You need to chase this up with your surgery, and the practice manager if necessary.

 

[TwoRivers]

Thanks. I was given the impression that it was up to me.

 

[TwoRivers]

You can apply to have your records online so your surgery needs to give you a form with a password unique to you then you can register online with something like Patient Access...you should get a choice it is not managed by the surgeries. Don't be surprised though if you do this and find you can only make appointments and request repeat medication. A lot of us who have done it do not get any more than that. Apparently it is down to our own GP practises how much they allow us to see online. I can't get my blood test results on mine but I have to phone up or go to the surgery for my results

I do already belong to just such an on-line service from our surgery. I order repeat medicine and make some appointments that way, though it seems only possible to book two weeks or so ahead. For blood tests, the system is dead. However I will ask them.

 

[Alison Campbell]

When is the Consultant back from holiday. Give him a week back then contact the hospital PALS/complaints team and request your results, they will be on the system somewhere and will be sent to you.

 

[Prem51]

I do already belong to just such an on-line service from our surgery. I order repeat medicine and make some appointments that way, though it seems only possible to book two weeks or so ahead. For blood tests, the system is dead. However I will ask them.

The online repeat prescription and appointment booking service can be accessed by you independently, which presumably you must have done at some point.
But you do have to request permission from the surgery to access your online medical records and test results. From forum members stories this can vary, some give access just from a verbal or telephone request, most require you to fill in a request/consent form and provide id, some just refuse.

 

[Pinkorchid]

I do already belong to just such an on-line service from our surgery. I order repeat medicine and make some appointments that way, though it seems only possible to book two weeks or so ahead. For blood tests, the system is dead. However I will ask them.

Yes your surgery web site access is different to Patient Access which is managed by outside companies in contact with the surgeries. I can do the appointments and order repeat prescriptions on my practice web site

 

[Pinkorchid]

The online repeat prescription and appointment booking service can be accessed by you independently, which presumably you must have done at some point.
But you do have to request permission from the surgery to access your online medical records and test results. From forum members stories this can vary, some give access just from a verbal or telephone request, most require you to fill in a request/consent form and provide id, some just refuse.

I have been to my surgery a number of times but the practice staff do not know what apart from giving me a password to register with Patient Access what I have to do now to see my records online. I have told them I have to get permission from the surgery and they have to have my consent to have my records online but they say they do not know how I can do that as there is nothing on their system about giving patients the surgery consent or mine to get access.