I kept hearing about chia seeds being beneficial so I bought some and am sprinkling them on my weetabix. It's been three days now and I'm not superwoman yet.
One thing they apparently don't help with is telephone stress.
I remembered I should find out the results from the test done on my nail clippings but couldn't remember what time to call. I looked on the surgery website, where it used to give valuable information like that, to find it has changed beyond recognition. I couldn't find anywhere it said results time so had to phone.
And then it starts, the monologue. NHS overstretched, not enough appointments, don't blame the staff, do not abuse staff, it's not their fault, blah blah staff, before saying, "If you're experiencing chest pains or you've collapsed . . ." you've probably died listening to this message.
Finally he gets on to the prescription hotline and very finally "for test results call back between 2 and 4".
I hung up and decided to suggest to the surgery that they change their website to give this information. I go back on the website and find the only ways to get in touch with Admin are either: phone again, wait in a queue for someone to answer, tell them, and they will probably ignore/forget; or call the surgery online. Sounds like the best idea.
Except the online service is only open for five minutes in the morning between 8.00 and 8.05. And that's for all queries, medical, technical, everything.
When I worked in the DVLC IT department there was a young, public-school-educated but rebellious man whose catchphrase was, "I despair!" I feel like that now.
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Leading study in Zac's tonight. Ooh, just remembered there might be heating! After three years of dressing for no heating downstairs I might be able to shed a layer this evening.
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My new jigsaw is hard.
10 comments:
Our hospitals are getting better at this. I had the report of my last surgical consult by the time I got home. But that was the big hospital. Our town hospital hasn't caught up, and the hospital in the nearest town is on a different system. There are no reports for actual family doctor visits.
Maybe someday they'll have AI providing telephone information and results.
I think I'd despair, too. I have so much medical access, ways to get in touch, available doctors, that I wish everyone had. I too hate the phone, but I can usually avoid it.
That ruddy announcement in that oh-so-calm voice about 111 and vomiting blood drives me insane. It's time the GP surgeries caught up with modern technology, installed decent equipment and trained their staff. Some are very good . . . others . . . 🤐
I share your despair with our system here too. The medical system is frustrating beyond belief. The machines with all the instructions drive me crazy.
I think any large organization makes it hard to access a real person to get information, but medical groups are the worst.
Husband is signed up for something whereby he gets all the letters and communication between medical staff about his health.
I'm glad we're all in agreement here - Boud excepted.
Five minutes. Five minutes? FIVE MINUTES! Definitely despair. Love your jigsaw. I'm very fortunate. I can send a direct message to my doctor. He might now answer for 2 or 3 days, but he answers. My test results also show up on my page in the medical group's Web site, and I can request prescriptiont refills there along with appointment. I rarely need to call the dr's office.
Love,
Janie
I hate those long monologues about this and that before you're able to speak to a human being about something. Our doctors' practice has an especially long one.
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