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Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I am a bit alarmed at what I see as a glaring inconsistency in the approach of Health Centres and clinics at this time.
I originally had an appointment for blood samples on 23rd March, to be followed up by my review on 31st March. Around the middle of March it was made public that a member of the medical staff ( I believe one of the doctors) had tested positive for Coronavirus and that the centre was closed for ‘deep cleaning’. Patients were informed that, on no account should anyone visit the centre and that anyone with appointments would be contacted in due course. I obviously did not attend for my blood samples and assumed I would be contacted in due course when things are back to normal. Meanwhile, it came to light that another of the doctors had tested positive.
I was surprised to get a call from the centre at the end of March pointing out that I had not kept my first appointment. I explained that I did not attend because of the earlier information given by the centre. I was told, with apologies, that there had been inconsistencies in communication with patients and the public and that my blood sample appointment was now rescheduled for Friday 10th April, with specific instructions about procedures, like not entering the building but to call from outside and to wait for a staff member to greet me etc.
I mentioned this to my daughter, who is a GP in a practice in another town and she expressed some doubt and alarm about what I had told her as it appeared, in her opinion, to contradict NHS guidelines. After talking to colleagues, she told me that, in her practice, patients no longer attended the building, all contact was by telephone and that ‘non urgent’ routine appointments such as chronic illness monitoring and reviews would cease till things are back to normal. She strongly advised me to contact my centre and cancel the appointment and to explain that I was self isolating and anxious about attending. I did that this morning, saying that I was in good health, self testing and BG numbers good, and that I would rearrange an appointment in the future. That was fine and my request noted and accepted.
I must say that, normally, my health centre is very efficient and I have no qualms about my dealings with it, but, in this uncertain time, I am confused at this lack of inconsistency. I would have thought that every centre would have clear guidelines and strict instructions on procedures, with no room for discretion.
I originally had an appointment for blood samples on 23rd March, to be followed up by my review on 31st March. Around the middle of March it was made public that a member of the medical staff ( I believe one of the doctors) had tested positive for Coronavirus and that the centre was closed for ‘deep cleaning’. Patients were informed that, on no account should anyone visit the centre and that anyone with appointments would be contacted in due course. I obviously did not attend for my blood samples and assumed I would be contacted in due course when things are back to normal. Meanwhile, it came to light that another of the doctors had tested positive.
I was surprised to get a call from the centre at the end of March pointing out that I had not kept my first appointment. I explained that I did not attend because of the earlier information given by the centre. I was told, with apologies, that there had been inconsistencies in communication with patients and the public and that my blood sample appointment was now rescheduled for Friday 10th April, with specific instructions about procedures, like not entering the building but to call from outside and to wait for a staff member to greet me etc.
I mentioned this to my daughter, who is a GP in a practice in another town and she expressed some doubt and alarm about what I had told her as it appeared, in her opinion, to contradict NHS guidelines. After talking to colleagues, she told me that, in her practice, patients no longer attended the building, all contact was by telephone and that ‘non urgent’ routine appointments such as chronic illness monitoring and reviews would cease till things are back to normal. She strongly advised me to contact my centre and cancel the appointment and to explain that I was self isolating and anxious about attending. I did that this morning, saying that I was in good health, self testing and BG numbers good, and that I would rearrange an appointment in the future. That was fine and my request noted and accepted.
I must say that, normally, my health centre is very efficient and I have no qualms about my dealings with it, but, in this uncertain time, I am confused at this lack of inconsistency. I would have thought that every centre would have clear guidelines and strict instructions on procedures, with no room for discretion.
