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Are others having their regular review cancelled?

PurpleArmadillo

Well-Known Member
Messages
55
Type of diabetes
Type 2
So I'm overdue by about a month for my 6-monthly review with a practice nurse. I hadn't bothered ringing till now because of the blood bottle shortage last month. At my last review I was put on gliclazide so no point having a review if we can't see if the new meds are having any effect.
At the time it was said the shortage would likely last till mid-September so when I called to make another routine appointment today I also asked about making a review appt thinking things would be back to normal. Quite the opposite. I was told they're not doing reviews at the moment. Maybe ask again when I have my next B12 appointment. That's in 3 months time!!!
So that's no blood results to measure the success or failure of my new meds, no foot check (as they do that at the same time now, having scrapped the annual podiatrist appointments), no advice, no support, nothing. I mean they're not exactly brilliant anyway since the specialist diabetes nurse retired, and I know the bottle shortage is out of their control, but I feel pretty angry to be just cast adrift!
Is this happening to everyone else too?
 
I have had my annual review cancelled and havent had a retinopathy or foot appointment/screening since Dec 2019
 
lucylocket61 said:
I have had my annual review cancelled and havent had a retinopathy or foot appointment/screening since Dec 2019
Click to expand...
Snap, no review, no foot/eye screening, no contact from the GP's for over 18months, but I've just gone to order my repeats and they've taken EVERYTHING off with no notice, time to be polite but firm with them I think
 
It's not reported now as there are more “interesting” things for the media to whip up a frenzg about but I spoke to my surgery and they still have a blood bottle shortage (Gloucestershire) so routine tests are still on hold

however, eye screening, feet checks etc. no reason those can’t happen
 
I was diagnosed in late 2016 and have never had 6 monthly reviews since the one in mid 2017, I was seen mid year for a couple of years for foot checks but nothing similar since.
Mind you - I was told that I'd had an annual health check since I was 40, of which I have no recollection and the surgery can't tell me what time of year they were done. Maybe I just forgot about going?
 
I only have yearly diabetes appointment at my docs, but they've been going on per normal - inc blood tests, foot checks, also the eye checks done by the screening service - I had extra cos they found something - back to yearly now as it resolved itself, also been having blood tests for thyroid stuff every 2-3 months as well (I feel like a pin cushion!).
Diabetes hospital appointments have been phone appointments instead of in person and have been on time - they never were before
 
I had no retina photographs done last year, but was sent a letter accusing me of failing to make an appointment in March this year. I promptly made an appointment, the retina check was done and I complained about the letter. I was told I had been sent the wrong letter.

My feet were checked both last year and this year by the podistry service, though last year it was about six months later than it should have been.
 
I've just had the well overdue foot check, plus my 6mth bloods only a few month late this time. My retinal check is booked for Nov, was due late June 2020.
So things are beginning to get back on track here.
 
I have had my annual diabetic review this week after I reminded the surgery that it was due. I got an appointment in less than a week. By March 2021 I was overdue for a retinopathy appointment. I phoned the service and was told I had to wait until January 2022 but if I could take a cancellation I could come in the next day. I am in South East London which is not famed for its access to the NHS at the moment but being proactive and flexible had paid off.
 
I’m under the community care team, just had my fourth a1c test in 5 months today. I’ve got my DSN’s mobile number and can ring her, or go and see her her anytime I want, I’ve been for so many blood tests this summer.
I’ve got a libre and all the teams can log in and see my results. I’ll be ringing her again when I get the latest results.
Think it depends where in the country you live and if you’re under your doctors surgery or community care.
 
I haven’t had 6 monthly reviews since my initial diagnosis.
However, my annual reviews and retinal scan have continued.

Disappointingly, my annual review has returned to face to face. I much preferred the phone call which did not need to 40 minute walk each way (parking is so bad, you can easily spend that long trying to find a space) and 30 minutes in the waiting room.
 
I had my annual review a couple of weeks ago in my birth month. Including shoes and socks off for foot pulse check, which was "Excellent".
Reading eyesight not so great, so optician has put me on an annual check up.
64
NE Fife.
 
Had an annual review in my birth month as anticipated just received a letter to arrange an appointment to go for eye and foot check at one of the primary care centres in the area.
 
Doesn't seem to be much of a problem here in Tayside. I had an interim 6 month review in July and also had bloods taken for testing for another condition three weeks ago. I've a phone consulation with my endo' consultatnt at the end of this month.
 
I've had my reviews with my diabetes specialists at the hospital. I'm also supposted to have a review with my GP but I haven't had one for two years. They have just written under specialist care as a type 1.
 
I've had my review with the DN and my retinopathy at the hospital. I always trigger my DN review; never wait for the surgery to contact you. The shortage of blood tubes may still be an issue but I thought that had been fixed now? I called the hospital ref my retinopathy and I said it was overdue and they gave me an appointment.
 
I have never had a review by a diabetic nurse, but I have had the following.

Blood test at SN Pathology every three months for digoxin count mainly, also the are checking my blood counts and iron and they add a hba1c to the list with the usual common and garden blood tests. Ship loads of bottles here I asked them where they got them and the stock answer of China was given. Why can't the NHS do that?

5 x 10 week free hpc podiatry visits, I get my toenails cut and they check every thing else out at Hinkler Podiatry by the podiatrist that deals with diabetic patients. (thank you Gina)

Optometrist at OPSM for annual eye tests, scans etc.

Now I have a new GP my T2 has moved down the urgency list with palliative care, it's about fourth on the list.

So I do not have to get her to sign the form at present to get subsidised NDSS strips (it's a covid prevention thingy) I stopped printing out three months worth of log book on the strength of that.
 
Mine was due back in June, I didn't push it & heard nothing either way.
Found my 2 week CGM trial gave me far better data than a one off FBG & A1c anyway.
 
My reviews have continued over the phone and a zoom. Much better than sitting in a waiting room. Also recently had my eye check and HbA1c In East Herts
 
hankjam said:
I had my annual review a couple of weeks ago in my birth month. Including shoes and socks off for foot pulse check, which was "Excellent".
Reading eyesight not so great, so optician has put me on an annual check up.
64
NE Fife.
Click to expand...

What is a foot pulse check?
The only foot exam I've ever had was one I requested; my doctor ran something like a pen point up the sole of my foot. I can do that at home so I didn't understand why it had to be done at her office.
I've never had or been offered a retinopathy exam.

I realize the US healthcare (non)system doesn't look after its people as well as the NHS does, but my doctor was a good one I thought.
 
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