Surprisingly quick feedback

Hi everyone!
A few of you may recall that I have phone anxiety issues, which have caused me problems taking up my diabetic review over the last few months. I had tried to explain to the receptionist, when initially booking diabetic blood tests, that I could not phone my GP nor could I take a booked call from him, She just kept insisting that this is what they do now, and wasn't really listening to my reply that this would be impossible for me.
This is a new practice for me in a new area, and so they don't know me, and due to moving during the first flush of the pandemic I have never met my new doctor.
Well anyway, some kind person on this site suggested that I write to the Practice Manager ... which I did yesterday, and today she replied with the following
(How lovely of her to be so helpful and reassuring)

Thank you for your letter which I have received today.
I can confirm that there is a note in the system to contact you by letter or email but not by telephone. We can also contact you by SMS (text message) to your mobile if you would like?

With regards to your overdue Diabetes Review, I am pleased to say that we can offer you a face-to-face appointment with our Nurse Jane.

We will need to book you in with one of our Phlebotomists first to obtain some up to date blood tests.

Our in-house Phlebotomy team are available on:

Mondays 8:30-10:30

Tuesdays 8:45-13:00

Wednesdays 10:00-12:45

Thursdays 9:30-11:45


Please let me know if you have a preferred day or time and I will make the appointment for you.

Once we have that booked, I will go ahead and book the review. Jane works Mon-Wed 8:30-16:30.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.


Kind Regards,

Vicky

SuNuman said:

Wow. A very understanding and lovely reply. Well done to whoever suggested you contact the practise manager. X.

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Thank you SuNuman and yes I am so relieved by her reply to me. Goodness knows how long it might have been until I had another review, had this not worked .. my writing to her that is.
I've had no reviews since before losing my son two years ago, so I really do need to know how I'm doing x

HurricaneHippo said:

So pleased to hear you got a lovely and understanding letter from the manager.

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Thank you and it just shows that it does no harm to 'come clean' about your phobias, and that it will be taken seriously x

SuNuman said:

Bless you. I cannot imagine the pain you must have gone throu. I am so sorry. X

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Thank you SuNuman. How do we carry on and cope with life? Who knows how we do. I guess we go onto 'auto-pilot' xx

Ryhia said:

lovely to hear that you had a good response. Next step - how about volunteering to become a member of the PPG perhaps? I don't think meetings are happening in my part of the country as yet but maybe something to check out in your area. Our area is interested in anyone who would like to attend the meetings so I suspect it is the same where you are and as you have life experiences to offer you may be able to be an influencer.

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Hi Ryhia, I have only just seen your entry here. So sorry to have skipped it. Can you tell me what the PPG is please?

Ryhia said:

Patient Participation Group - Here is some basic stuff but if you google it you will get some better info.
Patient Groups. Patient Participation Groups; NHS monitoring | Patient
If your GP surgery has an active PPG group and if you think it is useful to join then they will probably welcome you with open arms I just needed to ask at our reception and was welcomed onto the group immediately. That said I had only attended the group a couple of times before the pandemic stopped all meetings. So far as far as I can tell, they have not been reinstated. Need to check in case being a relative newbie I have just been missed me off the list. LOL.

Our group is comprised of the lead GP partner or someone he deputizes in his place, the Practice manager, one of the Nursing team and the invited patient group. We discuss issues that affect/impact the running of the surgery and patient care. There is a formal agenda and an any other business section so opportunity to raise issues or offer ideas/options which may enhance the patient experience.

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Thank you for enlightening me Ryhia