All Hail the great GPs

I was recently part of a check on my GPs. The people conducting this phoned me to say that I had ticked every category as 10 and asked me why. I said 'Because there was no 11'. On the same principle as Dolly Parton why do you wear size eight heels Because they don't make a nine.

When first diagnosed five or so years ago I was overweight and with a reading of 129. It felt like a death sentence. I am now about four stone lighter and last Hba1c was 58. Disappointing - the previous two were under 5o I think. But the big news is that the Guide Dog bloke who told me that I would lose my sight was wrong; I started back writing professionally again this month since I can now see the screen properly. I have been helped by so many people. The GPs; the Practice Nurse herself a Type 1 and full of life; dieticians - I expected some thin neurotic young women, and met instead highly qualified advisors who answered every question I had. Then the wonderful specialist Nurses on the Diabetics Experts Course - I even ALMOST understood 'carbohydrates' at the end of that.... and then someone said fruit was carbohydrate... oh, well,., you can't win \em all.

I `m fanatical in support of the NHS which I believe is under wicked threat. Just as it was when I began unpaid voluntary work in December 1949 in support of the NHS, Service charities and such. When newly graduating Doctors were being told that they would have no future in the profession if they signed up to this 'Socialist Medicine'.

To me the true mark of the NHS is the Hospital staffers I still meet every week while doing patent support work. They are downhearted by the loss of so many colleague jobs, ,and feel taken for granted , but Dear Lord, do they do all they can for us.! Or the eminent Eye Surgeon who had me in at seven am on an Easter BankHoliday Sunday to operate personally on my eyes.
He could not merely increase his income, But multiply, by going 'private' Yes, I think I truly DO love the NHS.'.

Positivo responds: I did not know what I was starting, as the peanut farmer said to the monkey.

I could not be more aware of just how blessed, not merely lucky, I am with why GP practice people at every level.

The contrast I might make with the NHS and my experience when living in Canada many years ago is: A colleague was unwell; before the ambulance crew would release him to the hospital he had to sign a cheque for thirty five dollars.. The hospital checked his medical insurance; only then did they admit him, and give him two aspirins with a six dollar charge on his account. Six dollars being close to half a day's pay for many at that time. The day his insurance cover expired the hospital dumped him. His friends flew him home to the UK, where the NHS took over his treatment for polio.
I can write endlessly about the good asp;acts of the medical, nursing, technical and support services of the NHS. I could also get very heated at the closed-minded stupidity of too many admin. wallah I have encountered therein.
It is very clear to me that the seniors in my GP Practice are voluntarily taking out much less than hehe cold easily 'get away with' in order to get in keen dedicated caring staff, enthusiastic learner GPs and unusually perhaps, a great staff Pharmacist.
I will add more later, if I may, but duty calls! Warmest regards to all who responded to my first effort.

Positivo responds. I had no idea of the scope of Diabetes UK; glad you are there. Things can and do go wrong, but in my experience it is seldom with the real front line NHS staff. I do not waste much time listening to phone in stations, but I am astounded at the vicious attacks and vilification of Junior Doctors airing this day.

Is it possible that the man who said that we killed many of our finest in 1914-18 and lots more in 1939-45, and we are now breeding the mongrels had it right after all?

Even allowing for the fact that the job of the radio presenters is held as 'be controversial' and 'play Devil's advocate' (in fact their only function is to fill the holes in the air that the Advertising Sales bandits have not been able to flog). But I do wonder what kind of media managers repeatedly call in a flatulent ageing Tory ex-Minister to speak on Health matters and not about his directorship(s) in a tobacco giant.

It just so happens that this comes on a day, in a week, when I freely say that I should down on my knees giving thanks for all the help, and compassion I have received from NHS hospital staffers. If I am again able to get back to the writing level I previously reached I will be delighted to pay the resultant additional income tax. Sixty eight years after I first started unpaid voluntary work I still live in a Country where we have to raise more and more CHARITY funds for Children's Hospitals, Blind ex-servicemen, hospices, cancer nurses, patient support, disability caret; make your own lists.

And all the fault of greedy, avaricious selfish uncaring Junior Doctors? Does not the odd Politician have a few questions to answer?

Q. I have been using spell checkers facilities for years, and I do not think the words suggested have ever been remotely like the ones I had in mind. Is this a record?