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Appointments during Covid-19

Miriam12345

Well-Known Member
Messages
51
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**
 
Funnily I got a text about 10minutes ago. My neurologist will phone me at a time in September.
 
My planned appointment with the hospital diabetes team went ahead (in July) when it was supposed to, but over the phone instead of in person, I normally get my bloods done at my docs and they are doing blood tests when needed - though a face covering is required and you are not allowed to touch anything and have to wait outside til you're called in by the doc/nurse.
And I've recently received the letter/text for my next appointment for the hospital as well (October) - phone appointment again.

Edit: my phone appointment was about 10 mins long in total - but far less stressful than normal cos I didnt have to spend 25 mins failing to get parked
 
I will give them another call. Just very weird time and not much communication, thank goodness for the different websites and forums!
 
Our drs are doing routine blood tests again, hospital too, although interestingly for outpatient blood tests they have moved to a room in outpatients. Only found out yesterday, so yet to attend, but have Consultant appt in early September. Hospital team have been contactable by email and phone throughout the pandemic, and as always are brilliant. I count myself extremely fortunate.
 
Hello that's great, I have managed to get through to a call centre and they are telling me appointments are through phone but couldn't tell me about blood tests so I will wait until my phone appointment.
 
Just been to my GP for a full blood count test. My DSN appnt for October has been cancelled. Was told I would be having one in November (hopefully) as I am awaiting to be put on the Medtronic Guardian sensors - again HOPEFULLY
 
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.
 
I timed mine right before the NHS shut down for Covid but friends in my t1 group have had calls and found them to be about as useful as normal! Hospitals are fairly quiet now btw so there is no reason to hurry any telephone consultation you have and perhaps even more reason to share your data electronically and to have questions well prepared. That said I feel there is a lot that can be learned by the doctor from seeing you in person plus they do need to do the neuropathy checks annually at least and so need to see your feet!
 
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 was meant to have a clinic appointment in June which was changed to a phonecall from a DSN. Group sessions were cancelled (obviously) so no new pump for now and no libre training. My dermatology appointment was moved to September so not sure yet what's happening with that. My GP is doing e-consults or phonecalls, I think they are doing bloods etc but not sure. I'm waiting to hear back from my GP to see if I need a refeŕral for my eyes and what will happen if I do
 
Miriam12345 said:
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.
Click to expand...
You should still be able to get bloods done and I was recently offered an eye screening so as far as I know these are happening. I find it useful to get the bloods done prior to the appointment so I am armed with knowledge rather than nervously awaiting the consultant's pronouncements!
 
I have asked if they are doing bloods but the call centre don't know. I know some places are for very poorly people, but I haven't been given any information and when asked the call centre haven't been able to tell me. Hopefully with your news this means it can happen, but I will wait to hear at my appointment what to do. To find this information I from my village doctors I would have to book an appointment, but as it's questions rather than an emergency I don't want to waste their time. But fingers crossed on my phone appointment I will have more information.
 
I had to push for bloods, which were done in local gp surgery, but follow up calls from gp were by phone
My non-diabetes hospital appts have all been put off without date.

(What are all the NHS staff doing instead i wonder)
 
MrsA2 said:
I had to push for bloods, which were done in local gp surgery, but follow up calls from gp were by phone
My non-diabetes hospital appts have all been put off without date.

(What are all the NHS staff doing instead i wonder)
Click to expand...
They are really busy, hence why my post wasn't a blaming post it was just some general questions. It is a very scary time for all, most importantantly doctors and nurses and other frontline key workers. I am going to ask if I can have bloods and eye test, but from what I have heard in another group and this group is that different areas have done things slightly differently, which is absolutely fine, it's not going to be done exactly the same way or at the same time frame.
 
MrsA2 said:
I had to push for bloods, which were done in local gp surgery, but follow up calls from gp were by phone
My non-diabetes hospital appts have all been put off without date.

(What are all the NHS staff doing instead i wonder)
Click to expand...
Good question ! Some of them are treating sunburn I suspect! Not much virus about though and the death toll is below the average so I guess they are busy catching up on the stuff that didn't get treated when NHS became the National Covid Service.
 
Miriam12345 said:
. . . . . . . . has anyone had any communication from their specialists, or anyone diabetes related at all?
Click to expand...

My blood tests for a urologist are just a case of me turning up at local hospital with the forms he has already filled in for the next 12 months.

The urine sample I gave because of a UTI was weird in that I had to ring the surgery door bell, take my little pot, fill it, then give it back. Luckily car park next to surgery has a public loo otherwise it would have meant a trip back home.

I had some concerns because of strange sensations, probably because of UTI so I did talk to GP who said the same thing. Blood test for PSA, just to be sure, to be done at surgery, in 6 weeks because the current infection would affect the result if done now.
 
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!!
 
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