Have you been able to actually make an appointment and see a Doctor recently. I really don't know what they do anymore. On the odd occasion I've had to pop in a Repeat Prescription request, the surgery is almost empty - there may be one or two people sitting waiting and it's usually up the end near the Nurse who does Blood Tests.
Recently I've been referred to a Para-Medic over extreme back pain. Actually he was very helpful. I've seen a Pharmacist at the Surgery over suspected High Blood Pressure - she is absent for a month and I was promised a call by her colleague but that is not till almost the end of October.
Blood test revealed slightly high Cholesterol - which I've known about for years - but my Good Cholesterol counterbalances it so I've not needed medication. However I was shocked to get a text referring me to a Link which gave advice on Diet and a Healthy Life style. As I already live under this regime and don't smoke and hardly drink, there's precious little else I can do. But to just have a referral link surprised me.
My lovely Doctor retired last year and I've not actually 'seen' a doctor since then - it would appear that everything is parcelled out to others like Paramedics.
One can no longer phone - if you can get through - and book an appointment. You have to fill in the wretched EConsult - which takes about 15 minutes and many of the questions are totally irrelevant to whatever is your condition. Then, if it is deemed necessary you might just get an appointment with an actual Doctor.
On the local news last night a Doctor said that Kent is one of the worst, if not the worst county for accessing a Doctor as there are too many patients per doctor. For some reason Doctors don't seem to want to come and live in Kent. Don't know why because they are building houses like they are going out of fashion. Thank you Angela Rayner - and they aren't inexpensive either so wouldn't be within the reach of first time buyers.
To add insult to injury - Wes Streeting wants the public to be able to phone the Doctor's Surgery all day not just 8.00 to 8.30. Apparently the doctors have responded by saying this will add to their workload and really important emergencies might be missed so they are threatening another Strike.
I am old enough to remember the days when you went to the surgery and waited - very often for a long time but you always saw a doctor. But then there were only 48 million people in the country and we are now approaching 70 million in our poor little over crowded country.
I'm glad I'm the age I am and won't be around that much longerš¤£
