Annual Diabetes Review

[Lilian]

Last year I was sent a letter to do blood test then phone for appointment. Unfortunately I was unwell and was going to do it when I felt better. Unfortunately it took longer than I thought. I received another letter at the end of March. I had then just caught a cold and cough and felt really rough, deciding to do it in a week or so's time, when I was better. Unfortunately it lasted for several weeks. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I had the blood test done, waited a couple of days, then phoned for an appointment. I was told by the receptionist she does not have me down on her list from the nurse so she could not do it. She said she would speak to the nurse and phone me back. A few days passed and I had not hear from her so I telephoned again. Once again I got the same thing. I explained that it was long overdue but she said she could not make an appointment until she hears from the nurse. So that is how it has been left. I still have not heard from the surgery.

 

[Bubbsie]

Last year I was sent a letter to do blood test then phone for appointment. Unfortunately I was unwell and was going to do it when I felt better. Unfortunately it took longer than I thought. I received another letter at the end of March. I had then just caught a cold and cough and felt really rough, deciding to do it in a week or so's time, when I was better. Unfortunately it lasted for several weeks. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I had the blood test done, waited a couple of days, then phoned for an appointment. I was told by the receptionist she does not have me down on her list from the nurse so she could not do it. She said she would speak to the nurse and phone me back. A few days passed and I had not hear from her so I telephoned again. Once again I got the same thing. I explained that it was long overdue but she said she could not make an appointment until she hears from the nurse. So that is how it has been left. I still have not heard from the surgery.

Lillian that's disappointing...at my surgery we ring & book our own blood tests when review time comes around...and can check our results online...what a lot of nonsense...I hope you get a response sooner rather later...how frustrating for you.

 

[Ralph-YK]

If you can't get an appointment with a nurse, maybe you could try making one with a doctor. Or drop off a letter, addressed directly to the nurse, mentioning this.
[Edited]

 

[Grannylorraine]

Ask for an appoint with the doc if they won't let you see the nurse. You need to get your results somehow

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

That doesn’t sound right at all to me @Lilian - unfortunately you may have to just keep on pressuring them for this routine appointment. You should be getting regular checks to monitor your diabetes. I’m not sure what the guidelines are for T2, but I would think as an insulin user every 6 months would be helpful, so that you get some extra info between annual reviews which are an absolute minimum.

 

[DaveB]

Your surgery doesn't sound very good. I make my nurse appointment at Reception and they simply offer me a selection of free dates for the Nurse. The dates are all on the IT system so they don't need to ask the nurse. I think you need to insist that they give you an appointment with someone. Also ask to be able to access your test results online. Surgeries are supposed to be offering this since April last year

 

[Lilian]

No point in seeing doctor as she just tells me to see the nurse. I have been told I have missed my slot and they will try and find one for me and when they do will let me know but I am not holding my breath. Meanwhile husband has just received his letter and been given an appointment in June. It seems if you are ill and miss your slot there is no annual review and you have to wait until the following year. I would have thought if you are ill you need the review even more. What I cannot understand is that they are doing them on your birthday and I was told that my next one is due in July, but my husband has got one in June and his birthday is not until September. They have not got us mixed up because they list his conditions on his letter and mine on mine. I can access my results online, but only make appointment with my own doctor.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

No point in seeing doctor as she just tells me to see the nurse. I have been told I have missed my slot and they will try and find one for me and when they do will let me know but I am not holding my breath. Meanwhile husband has just received his letter and been given an appointment in June. It seems if you are ill and miss your slot there is no annual review and you have to wait until the following year. I would have thought if you are ill you need the review even more. What I cannot understand is that they are doing them on your birthday and I was told that my next one is due in July, but my husband has got one in June and his birthday is not until September. They have not got us mixed up because they list his conditions on his letter and mine on mine. I can access my results online, but only make appointment with my own doctor.

Very frustrating for you Lilian, and you certainly should be getting your checks annually, not having to wait 2 YEARS if you happend to be ill on the day of your appointment!!

 

[C&E Guy]

This all sounds rather pathetic, and extremely frustrating.

I know there is an old joke about doctors' surgeries being so busy that you have to make an appointment 2 weeks in advance, knowing that you are then going to be ill.

Hope you can manage to get seen.