Well I was suffering a bit of discomfort down my right hand side and so a trip to the Doctor was in order. I don’t often go and this was under duress from my wife!
I don’t know what it’s like for you getting an appointment with your local GP surgery, but ours has now got this new vetting system. Gone are the days when you phoned up at 08.30 and got an appointment that same morning, with a GP that you recognised.
The call waiting message tells you that you are 20 th in the que and then there is a countdown to your turn. This can last up to 20-30 mins. To then be cross-examined by a receptionist that has previously trained as a barrister…this experience makes you feel like you are in a Crown Court, giving evidence on your condition via the witness box…with why have you phoned? And could it not have been answered via our online service.
After defending yourself, they call this triage…. you then wait to see if you are successful in getting a Doctor to call you back…..Yet again explaining your symptoms condition.
After eventually now realising that they need to see you in person you have to drive to the nearest available surgery… I really wonder how my elderly neighbours cope with this, especially if they don’t drive.
After several prods and pokes… The Doctor tell me “I think it could be this or that, you need to have an ultra-scan and CAT scan to fully understand what is occurring” and then come back… Great
You think your ordeal is now over……..but wait! They then proceed to tell you that you are overweight, a man of your age is prone to risk of becoming a diabetic. Wonderful!!!
Come back in three months and have a blood test to see if you are. No advice or suggestions on what to do next! Where to start and more importantly the things to avoid eating and drinking.
Why did I have to have a pain in my right hand side, in the first place? Hasn’t this experience with my GP surgery been painful enough…