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Stupid GP nurse

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Amberzak

Amberzak

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
okay so I had my annual review. Firstly they couldn't get any blood for the blood test. They tried 7 times.

But that isn't what annoyed me. I get my care from Portsmouth, which is in a different county to my GP. I love Portsmouth. They've changed my life. But this stupid know it all nurse from my GP gets right up my goat.

Firstly, my last hba1c was 64. My Portsmouth nurse is over the moon with that. It's the lowest it's ever been, and considering I have a lot of other issues, and severe anxiety, which has a direct affect on my sugars, I was also happy.

The nurse at the doctors told me it isn't good enough and started going through all the complications of diabetes. I've got on counselling to learn how to cope with my diabetes and not let it worry me. My anxiety has always been about te complications, and I know what will happen. But this nurse has made me worried again. And I don't want to fall back into that trap of over worrying about my diabetes all the time. I've been happier than I have in a long time.

I do look after my sugars. And I don't need all the doom and gloom talk from some no it all nurse who, quite frankly, doesn't even understand how my insulin pump works but pretends that she does. She argued with me for ages over the amount of novorapid I use, because apparently it's too much, and then wanted to know why I'm not on background insulin. I explained that I'm on the pump, so all I take is novorapid, and she said 'but you still need basal'. Yeah, the basal is novorapid dripfeed to me. I still don't think she got it.

I'm just feeling really like She got my back up. She told me it's not a good sign that I have very mild retinopathy (the consultant said it's so small and minor it's nothing to worry about, and that it's perfectly normal to start showing signs when you've been type one as long as me).

Am I allowed to refuse to go to the annual review next year? Considering that Portsmouth handle all my care? I don't want to see this woman. She has no clue about me and my needs. She wanted to reduce my insulin amount and my test strips.
 
Does your hospital clinic send a letter to you, as well as GP, after each appointment? That would be useful to show to your practice nurse. In particular, it could state how much short acting insulin you are using in pump and state no long acting is required, except on standby, in case pump fails.
 
Sorry you had such a bad appointment what a nightmare your supposed to come out feeling someone better when you see them not more stressed . I know they never get blood from me straight away always takes about 3 attempts and it hurts muchcly. Im sure you have the right to decide who you see for your care so I'd ask @Amberzak
 
Sorry to hear of this bad experience Amberzak. Hope you can request a different nurse for next time as you clearly have no confidence in this particular one.
 
Sorry your appointment was better Amberzak, hope you don't have to deal with her again.
 
Sorry to hear you had such a stressful appointment, Amberzak. :(
 
I have had a similar problem with my GP...wrote to him after my first review...within twenty minutes of delivering the letter...had him on the phone apologising...resolved that...recently had similar with a new DSN...have told my GP do not want her involved in my diabetes care...again I put it in writing...ask to be referred elsewhere Amberzak...as for your HbA1c results...as you say...much improvement there...I have no experience of type 1 diabetes...so could be pardoned for not knowing how a pump works...which insulin you need...she should not!!!..don't be too despondent...many of us here have encountered similar problems...ask for a referral...not going to lose anything by asking...you have advice from the consultant re; your eyes...good enough...can refer back to him/her if need to...as for reducing the strips...sounds like she wasn't successful...stupid ignorant behaviour...put it away...press on with your good management...sounds like bullying tactics...she should know better.
 
Amberzak said:
Am I allowed to refuse to go to the annual review next year? Considering that Portsmouth handle all my care? I don't want to see this woman. She has no clue about me and my needs. She wanted to reduce my insulin amount and my test strips.
Click to expand...

Yes you can refuse your annual review at the practice. When you have your next summons in the post cancel the apt and also state in writing that you do not want an annual review as your care is at Portsmouth.

My surgery in their misguided way always send an annual apt in the post and on the bottom of the letter is a tear off strip which you can return saying you do not wish to have a review.

After your experience you also need to sit down and write a letter to this so called nurse and outline exactly what she has done to you and your mental health.
 
I told my GP practice I didn't want anymore as they were useless. Actually told them they were useless. I canceled an appointment I had.
What would actually happen long term I don't know, as I left that practice.
My understanding is you can refuse practically all treatment and are not legally required to submit to medical people
 
I suggest contacting your DSN/team at the hospital and let them know what is happening with that nurse at the practice. I'd draft a letter/ email to them asap.
You could also contact the practice manager at the gp as well.
My nurse Used to get all flustered when I presented her with something to do with insulin or something unusual , However she listens and understands we are all unique.
 
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I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience, especially as you've done so well with your anxiety. Frankly ignore what she has said and see if you can either be referred to another DSN or have all your care at the hospital. My GP surgery have specifically said they will not interfere in my insulin regimes and to listen and follow advice from hospital DSN.
 
That's good, Amberzak, the hospital nurse will be well experienced with pumps, so you'll be talking the same language. Best of luck.
 
Amberzak - why don't you actually write to the doc who is 'Head Of Practice' at your surgery, with an official complaint. The worst part of course is the affect on your anxiety - and quite simply she MUST be stopped giving advice on anything that countermands the hospital advice a patient has received - never mind what clinic the patient is 'under' !!
 
Good thinking TW, that just might stimulate the practice to send a certain someone on a training course.
 
Over the last few years my diabetic care has been at the clinic at the local hospital - in the main it has been 1st class

Should I ever come off insulin - which is coming, my care will revert to the GP surgery.
I do not want that. Our practice nurse is a lovely lassie, but a DSN she ain't.

Time will tell
 
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Hazel - you'll need the patience of a saint then, LOL However - of course I suppose we could all think of tricky questions to ask the surgery nurse, saying that we need to know, because - so will she please find out the answers asap and get back to us? If she doesn't, see the GP and ask him the same, and then ask what you are sposed to do when he hasn't a clue either.

It will either lead to one of them becoming better informed - or not ...... in which case, can you please go back into the care you had at the hospital LOL
 
I like your thinking TW :D. As soon as my HbA1c gets to below 48, the consultant is signing me off so I'll also be totally under the 'care' of my GP practice. Like Hazel, the nurse is no DSN, but unlike Hazel my practice nurse is a horrible woman:(. I really want to be below 48 but not looking forward to the level of care afterwards.
 
All these jobsworths making lives a misery and getting paid for it! 😡
 
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