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Hospital let downs

U

uruudoshi

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hello all.
Is anyone out there feeling left out by the Hospital appointment scheme,?

As you probably know, all appointments are being done over the phone, so no blood pressure, feet, eye, physical, weight, blood pressure checks getting done.
Then, I had an appt and waited 6 hours after the appt was due, sent a voicemail message and then a doctor called at 7pm by which time I was in my car travelling.
So another appt made 4 months later, the morning of the appt I received a call that the doctor was I'll sns a new appointment as made for Tuesday today!!! So guess what yes no phone call. Instead I received a letter advising as I had cancelled my appt I now have another appt 3 weeks from now.

I'm confused, bemused and feeling immensely let down. The contingency isn't delivering what's a basic need for diabetics and I find it shocking that this is allowed to continue... who's driving this and when can it be resolved?

I'm sorry for groaning but the pandemic has taken over and it's been allowed to take over and illnesses like ours is being pushed down the ladder.
 
uruudoshi said:
Hello all.
Is anyone out there feeling left out by the Hospital appointment scheme,?

As you probably know, all appointments are being done over the phone, so no blood pressure, feet, eye, physical, weight, blood pressure checks getting done.
Then, I had an appt and waited 6 hours after the appt was due, sent a voicemail message and then a doctor called at 7pm by which time I was in my car travelling.
So another appt made 4 months later, the morning of the appt I received a call that the doctor was I'll sns a new appointment as made for Tuesday today!!! So guess what yes no phone call. Instead I received a letter advising as I had cancelled my appt I now have another appt 3 weeks from now.

I'm confused, bemused and feeling immensely let down. The contingency isn't delivering what's a basic need for diabetics and I find it shocking that this is allowed to continue... who's driving this and when can it be resolved?

I'm sorry for groaning but the pandemic has taken over and it's been allowed to take over and illnesses like ours is being pushed down the ladder.
Click to expand...
I agree but unfortunately every condition except covid is being pushed down priority. I know of people with significant illnesses who are not having treatment, hospital operations cancelled etc

doctors, or at least mine, are still doing blood tests and some monitoring and my eyes were done. Possible your area is worse from what you are saying

Im sorry, they do seem to have decided covid is the most important thing out there
 
I had a delay but my GP did one set of blood tests late last year.
Hospital appts for other things have varied - some in person, some over phone, some on hold indefinitely.
But no diabetic eye or foot checks, and these were due last June.
 
Hello. I get to see a consultant in my Surrey hospital but am having trouble organising the necessary blood work that is the really helpful part of seeing someone! I can get my bp done at home and my eye checks are done separately I never weight myself!
TBH there is no excuse in my opinion for you not to be able to go to clinic and whilst there might have been justifiable caution in round 1 of the lockdown are the hospitals actually re purposing diabetes consultants to work in ICU now or is it just that the clinics find things run more smoothly without patients getting in the way? We're being told to save the NHS but the NHS is supposed to be saving us too or the forward burden is going to be heavy.
 
I think it does also depend on exactly where you are, for instance I normally go to the doc for a yearly checkup and go to the hospital as well (cos I'm on a pump), the first half of my docs appointment they did do the blood test, the blood pressure and the foot check and waist measurement, same a s normal at the docs (except we were all masked up), the second half - two weeks later (talking to the DN) as normal but was over the phone, on time.

Any hospital appointments have been organised and have happened over the phone - in fact in a lot better time than normal, one was ten mins late, the other exactly on time, which is a lot lot lot better than when going along there (normally was running at least 30 mins late and parking was a nightmare so my bp was always awful)

So yeah I think it very much depends on location.
 
It doesn't make it right, despite covid. Acute conditions are still acute for a reason. I'm sorry and I'm not hypo but it's not right. Just saying. Appreciate your comments and I'm a reasonable soul just very unhappy with treatment or lack of. Goes against the minimum testing required. Ok enough now and thanks for listening.
 
My hospital clinic are doing appointments for bloods and other checks, then a phone appointment with the consultant. I was meant to have both at the beginning of the month but told them I didn't want the face to face appointment, they said I could still have the phone appointment and I had a 30 minute phonecall from my consultant.
However my pump warranty expired in September and I still haven't been told when I can get my new one, so some things are being done well, others not so much.
Sorry you're having problems @uruudoshi :(
 
I totally agree with how frustrating the circumstances of the pandemic has been. I was diagnosed and admitted into hospital with Type 1 in the middle of November 2020. As you can imagine, it has been a difficult time processing this and accessing the necessary information from the diabetic nurses when all but one of my appointments have been over the phone.

I'm hoping that there will be more face to face consultations soon, as there can only be so much achieved over the phone. :(
 
Well I guess the summary of this conversation is there is way too much variation in the services being provided... about time we had a global or at least UK standard approach....
 
My annual review is usually at the hospital and preceded by a visit to the phlebotomist at my go surgery to extract blood which is sent to the lab.
Last year, my blood test was still done at my surgery as usual and my appointment was via the phone.
The phone call was slightly late but so are my appointments at the hospital.
So, instead of a 45 minute walk to the hospital (and 45 minute walk home) and 20 minutes waiting for my appointment, I was able to continue working from home and wasted no time.

My experience was very good.
 
Definitely variable.
Its worth keeping asking rather than waiting to be contacted.
 
I have developed depression and severe anxiety and needed my GP to help me get help.
I have had bloods done, I have had two GP appointments at the surgery, I have had two hospital appointments, one for a scan and one for the wife. I have weekly counselling sessions, and my GP phones me every two weeks because I going through some tough days at the moment.
My GP has been brilliant and has kept me informed about my meds and sent my sick notes on time, also had my households meds delivered, including any that have changed.
The wife is getting her jab tomorrow, and my doctor told me yesterday that I may get mine, before the end of next week.

I cannot complain about my doctor, even though there is others that have struggled to get appointments. But with the online app they have got now, will get you an appointment as soon as possible, if not sooner.

Stay safe
 
I’m usually seen at the diabetic clinic at the hospital but my gp has stepped in and I’ve seen the diabetic nurse with the practice, as I haven’t been seen in over a year. I’ve had bloods, bp and foot check done. Unfortunately she’s not really able to help me with medications as I’m waiting to see a psychologist due to my eating habits. But at least I’ve been seen by someone.
 
I have my yearly review next week at doctor, bloods, BP, weight and feet all at local surgery. Actually surprised but pleasently so.

It certainly seems postcode lottery
 
Im waiting on open heart surgery, my january 12th appointment was cancelled and I havent heard anything since.

Im starting to think they are waiting for me to die to save some money hehe.

I have to say upto this I have recieved incredible good care. I am sure they are doing their best.
 
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