absolutely fuming

[imtrying]

ok...just a little bit of background.

I'm attending BERTIE (carb counting course) at my diabetes centre starting this Friday so naturally, they ask me to get a blood test done for my latest HBA1c.

- on friday 23rd Sept (2 weeks before needed), I took a/l from work and went to my local clinic and had my blood test done.
- wednesday 28th I phoned my diabetes centre to get results - they didn't have any. after long convo they said the clinic I went to was out of the borough and so would go to my drs.
- phoned doctors, they didn't have them.
- phoned old doctors, they didn't have them
- phoned new doctors to update and they said they'd phone the clinic....when they got through, they didn't know where they'd gone
- the next day, off my own back, I found out where the path lab was (local hospital) and phoned them. They confirmed they had the results, but coudn't tell me them as can't discuss on phone. I said that's fine, send them through to my drs.
- phoned doctors the next day to get results...didn't have them, so phone back
- phoned back the following day, they had them but were waiting to be assessed by the dr so couldn't tell me what they were. call back in 2 days


that then brings us to today....when my drs surgery phoned me as they knew I'd been trying to get these results for so long, and with a smug voice feeling all pleased with herself thinking she was about to make my day....said, 'we've got your results'....'brilliant, thank you so much...what is it?'.........
'normal'.

NORMAL???? WTF is NORMAL???????????????????

she didn't know. that's all the dr had written. She said I could come in and get the results myself. Brilliant...so I asked her, so there is a number on there? No, just the doctor writing 'normal'!!!!!!! why would I go and get that in writing!???!!! so I asked her 'what's normal then?' she said she didn't know, they're not medically qualified bla bla bla. she said if I wanted to discuss it with the dr I'd have to make an appointment and talk to him about it....why?? just for one figure??? I keep explaining to them I work full time - I work over an hour away from my house and the drs surgery, and am out the house every day for at least 12 hours. I am already taking 4 afternoons off this month for my BERTIE course, I don't want to waste time off work to do something that I shouldn't need to.

Sorry, I'm so upset and angry that this is being made so difficult.

Thanks all for listening.

 

[Monica]

I'm sorry to hear that you're being given the runaround!! That is just not on! An HbA1C can never be "normal". It has to be a number, this is just ridiculous. I'm sure the receptionist could have a quick word with the doctor to give you a ring back when he has a minute.

I hope you will find out your HbA1C before this BERTIE course starts. (((Katie)))

 

[Ellie Jones]

What a run around you've had...

Path Lab won't give information out over the phone, I'm suprised that they even told you the results were there as I used to work with for the Public Health Labs at the hospital, and even if the surgery rang we wouldn't give the results over straight away, but ring them back using our logged number of that surgery..

And what a nightmare your doctors receptionist is... Fair play yes the doc might have written 'normal' but she still could have given you your HbA1c result as it's still there on your records, the normal is just the doctors comment!

I would try ringing back if you are up to it, and asking specifically for your HbA1c result, and you might be able to teach or a thing or two as she should be confuddled by having two numbers there... The new mol one and the percentage one.. Then you can explain what's it all about..

As my surgery receptionist was confuddled by this result, when I phoned the other day so I explained, and she was chuffed that I had saying she had learnt something new that day and it was refreshing to speak to a patient that understood the test result..

 

[novorapidboi26]

What an affair..............

can your diabetes centre do the blood test there and get the results back on the same day.......? I realize each clinic/centre has different facilities, but a diabetic clinic in my opinion should have these in place......

I hope your result, if you get it, is what you have been hoping for..........🙂

 

[Caroline]

I can only imagine how angry and frustrated you feel.

The thing with doctors appointments really frustrates me too. I say to the receptionist

I work full time, I statrt at 7am and finish at 3 30pm so I need an appointment as late in the evening as possible

she says
how about 11.30

me no I need one as late in the day as possible

her how about 2pm

me no even later how about 6pm

her no none that late

and so it goes on. Last time I saw the doctor they had changed my appointment so many times I ended up going sick and stating that was why I'd gone sick.

 

[Mark T]

...please can you put the Doctor on the phone or have then call me back at the first available opportunity...

 

[imtrying]

...please can you put the Doctor on the phone or have then call me back at the first available opportunity...

lol I tried that one...got told I could only make an appointment to 'discuss' my results with him.

I can only imagine how angry and frustrated you feel.The thing with doctors appointments really frustrates me too. I say to the receptionist

I work full time, I statrt at 7am and finish at 3 30pm so I need an appointment as late in the evening as possible

she says how about 11.30

me no I need one as late in the day as possible

her how about 2pm

me no even later how about 6pm

her no none that late

and so it goes on. Last time I saw the doctor they had changed my appointment so many times I ended up going sick and stating that was why I'd gone sick.

oh yes I get that A LOT! do you have something at the beginning or end of ANY day? receptionist - how about 11am? Jeez!

can your diabetes centre do the blood test there and get the results back on the same day.......? I realize each clinic/centre has different facilities, but a diabetic clinic in my opinion should have these in place......

I hope your result, if you get it, is what you have been hoping for..........🙂

thanks NRB. After I calmed down I called my diabetes team and left a message. The dietician has just called me back and I've explained it to her and she's going to call them and try to get them to send over the results. so we shall see!! don't think I'm going to find out anything until Friday...I don't have the energy for any more medical calls!!

 

[imtrying]

What a run around you've had...

hey, yeah I think the path lab took pity on me as I'd already had such a runaround and these things don't just disappear. I just asked if she could confirm if they had my blood or not.... 🙂

I'm sorry to hear that you're being given the runaround!! That is just not on! An HbA1C can never be "normal". It has to be a number, this is just ridiculous. I'm sure the receptionist could have a quick word with the doctor to give you a ring back when he has a minute.

I hope you will find out your HbA1C before this BERTIE course starts. (((Katie)))

Thanks Monica. I'm feeling much better now I've spoken to my diabetes team. Though they did tell me it's not a surprise as I didn't get it done within their borough....I never knew it mattered, so never gave it another thought. Still, the amount of running around I've had to do I think cancels that out!!

 

[Monica]

After I calmed down I called my diabetes team and left a message. The dietician has just called me back and I've explained it to her and she's going to call them and try to get them to send over the results. so we shall see!! don't think I'm going to find out anything until Friday...I don't have the energy for any more medical calls!!

Fingers crossed your dietician has more luck. I hope you do find out on Friday. The positive about that is, that Friday is only 2 days away.

 

[Northerner]

Could you request a telephone consultation with the doctor so you can find out? It would be a waste of everyone's time for you to have to make an appointment just for that.

What a palaver! I would have given up long before you, so well done on getting as far as you have! I suppose the one good thing is that the doctor's note didn't say 'abnormal'! 😱

 

[Mark T]

lol I tried that one...got told I could only make an appointment to 'discuss' my results with him.

Oh, I would of probably followed that up with a may I take your name and can I speak to the practise manager please

(I can be a bit bolshy when I'm peeved)

Saying that, the one really obstructive receptionist at my GP surgery who used to do things like that has either left or been retrained (I suspect the latter).

Hopefully the dietician is able to get more sensible data. Saying that, if the path lab you are using is Broomfield then all the results are logged on their computer system. The DSN's have access to that, as does my GP surgery.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Urgh! I feel your pain!

Really hope that you manage to get your result without any firther faff and *certainly* without the need to go make an appointment. Seems like you are victim of some sort of 'best practice' bullet-pointed list of How Things Must Be Done

Frustrating that all of these shared records are not kept up to date more quickly. I was asked by GP about my D because it looked like I hadn't been seen for over 12 months. I had (AR a few weeks prior), but the computermabob wasn't up to day. Pah!

 

[Northerner]

Wasn't it MargB recently who also got told her HbA1c was 'normal'?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Wasn't it MargB recently who also got told her HbA1c was 'normal'?

Which might be fine to tell someone who never/hardly ever has test results. But when you get them done regularly and understand, in detail, what the numbers represent, just getting 'normal' is completely 'chocolate teapot' as an old friend used to say...

 

[imtrying]

Could you request a telephone consultation with the doctor so you can find out? It would be a waste of everyone's time for you to have to make an appointment just for that.

thanks Alan - I tried that....was told I had to make an appointment to come in to disuss my results. I gave up trying to say I don't want to discuss them, I just want to know what they are!! And for that exact same reason of what you've said is why I refused to make an appointment...waste of everybody's time!

Oh, I would of probably followed that up with a may I take your name and can I speak to the practise manager please

Hopefully the dietician is able to get more sensible data. Saying that, if the path lab you are using is Broomfield then all the results are logged on their computer system. The DSN's have access to that, as does my GP surgery.

Mark, I didn't know about the practice manager bit, but a few people have said that on here so that's what I'm going for next time!! Keeping my fingers crossed for the dietician. Although my diabetes team are in Broomfield, I actually went to Elm park for blood test, so the path lab was Queen's...hence part of the problem sharing any results!! I just never knew they'd be an issue with it as never had it before. So kinda my own fault, but thought I was getting somewhere when I tracked them down and got my results sent to my doctors!!

Urgh! I feel your pain!

Really hope that you manage to get your result without any firther faff and *certainly* without the need to go make an appointment. Seems like you are victim of some sort of 'best practice' bullet-pointed list of How Things Must Be Done

Frustrating that all of these shared records are not kept up to date more quickly. I was asked by GP about my D because it looked like I hadn't been seen for over 12 months. I had (AR a few weeks prior), but the computermabob wasn't up to day. Pah!

thanks Mike.....I am waiting in anticipation! I don't think I'll have any more bloods done in the future! life's too short lol

 

[MargB]

Yes Northey it was me who was told "normal". I did eventually make an appointment and complained to my gp that "normal" was not good enough but when phoning to make that appointment got another receptionist who drilled down into the results and got a reading. The problem then was that the reading was exactly the same as the previous one, 6 months earlier and I didn't know whether to believe it or not. After speaking to doc, the result was exactly the same which was amazing.

For the practice nurse to record "normal" is the biggest indicator going that she does not understand diabetes!

Is there more than one receptionist? I buttered them up by saying it was not their fault but "normal" is nonsense, I needed a reading and they must have a difficult job dealing with irate patients so please could they find the paperwork from the hospital/lab - pretty please? It worked with the more experienced receptionist!

When making appointments I say I can't finish work before 4pm and have to politely decline the 4pm appointment!! Erm no, I need to leave work, face the traffic and get to the health centre.

Very annoying situation and I understand completely. Have an 'ug ((((((())))))

 

[Catwoman76]

ok...just a little bit of background.

I'm attending BERTIE (carb counting course) at my diabetes centre starting this Friday so naturally, they ask me to get a blood test done for my latest HBA1c.

- on friday 23rd Sept (2 weeks before needed), I took a/l from work and went to my local clinic and had my blood test done.
- wednesday 28th I phoned my diabetes centre to get results - they didn't have any. after long convo they said the clinic I went to was out of the borough and so would go to my drs.
- phoned doctors, they didn't have them.
- phoned old doctors, they didn't have them
- phoned new doctors to update and they said they'd phone the clinic....when they got through, they didn't know where they'd gone
- the next day, off my own back, I found out where the path lab was (local hospital) and phoned them. They confirmed they had the results, but coudn't tell me them as can't discuss on phone. I said that's fine, send them through to my drs.
- phoned doctors the next day to get results...didn't have them, so phone back
- phoned back the following day, they had them but were waiting to be assessed by the dr so couldn't tell me what they were. call back in 2 days


that then brings us to today....when my drs surgery phoned me as they knew I'd been trying to get these results for so long, and with a smug voice feeling all pleased with herself thinking she was about to make my day....said, 'we've got your results'....'brilliant, thank you so much...what is it?'.........
'normal'.

NORMAL???? WTF is NORMAL???????????????????

she didn't know. that's all the dr had written. She said I could come in and get the results myself. Brilliant...so I asked her, so there is a number on there? No, just the doctor writing 'normal'!!!!!!! why would I go and get that in writing!???!!! so I asked her 'what's normal then?' she said she didn't know, they're not medically qualified bla bla bla. she said if I wanted to discuss it with the dr I'd have to make an appointment and talk to him about it....why?? just for one figure??? I keep explaining to them I work full time - I work over an hour away from my house and the drs surgery, and am out the house every day for at least 12 hours. I am already taking 4 afternoons off this month for my BERTIE course, I don't want to waste time off work to do something that I shouldn't need to.

Sorry, I'm so upset and angry that this is being made so difficult.

Thanks all for listening.

Oh that's awful, being so messed about like that, no wonder you are angry, I don't blame you one bit. I'm glad you got it off your chest. The trouble is we are just, yet, another name on a piece of paper, or on a computer screen. The red tape is SO annoying, it's probably down to more safety and confidentially issues. I hope you get it sorted out soon. Best wishes Sheena

 

[imtrying]

Is there more than one receptionist? I buttered them up by saying it was not their fault but "normal" is nonsense, I needed a reading and they must have a difficult job dealing with irate patients so please could they find the paperwork from the hospital/lab - pretty please? It worked with the more experienced receptionist!
Very annoying situation and I understand completely. Have an 'ug ((((((())))))

ah thanks Marg 🙂 I understand they're not medically trained, but I'm not asking her to analyse them, just TELL ME THE NUMBER!!!!!!!! haha I've calmed down today....I shall educate them when I go in for my new patient screening 😛

Oh that's awful, being so messed about like that, no wonder you are angry, I don't blame you one bit. I'm glad you got it off your chest. The trouble is we are just, yet, another name on a piece of paper, or on a computer screen. The red tape is SO annoying, it's probably down to more safety and condidentially issues. I hope you get it sorted out soon. Best wishes Sheena

Thanks Sheena. Thing is, she wasn't being difficult, she was just reading what the doctor had written...he just wrote something completely ridiculous!! lol she really didn't understand any more than literally the words written in front of her...shockingly though, when she asked someone else (think I made her doubt her answer), I heard another receptionist tell her exactly what she'd already told me!! I was tempted to patronisingly ask her to tell me everything she could see on the screen in front of her, but I'd just run out of my reserve supply of patience by then!

 

[Monica]

I hope you got your NUMBER today 🙂

 

[PattiEvans]

Having had a similar run around I can completely understand your anger and frustration! Getting the results of my CPeptide test took from 14 July to 1st September even though the Endo had them a week after the test.