Wednesday 10 November 2021

Doctor by Phone.




This was a new experience for me; a visit to the Doc' by telephone.

I needed a repeat prescription for my 'borderline' diabetes, so there was really no reason to waste a Doctor's precious time by having a face to face meeting.

The Doctor seemed very nice. She asked me if everything was OK; I tried to be honest, but being male I probably wasn't. I was left with the impression that she was very young and probably inexperienced.

My new Doctor's surgery is based at Boots (a major UK-wide pharmacy). A few hours later I went to pick-up my prescription as instructed, but it wasn't there. I went back the following day, and all was ready. No charge. No fuss. Back in France it would have cost me about £60, so having everything FREE was pleasant.

I quite like this new style of medical attention. The Doc' didn't give me the 3 month's worth of pills I was after, and also insisted that I go to see her in person in a month's time, which is a pain, but otherwise all was OK. I shall be having my Covid booster jab quite soon, so that, presumably, will also need some physical presence; unless I'm instructed to just put my arm into a machine!

I should add that the receptionist at the surgery is absolutely delightful. She is young, very attractive, and cannot do enough for us. What a difference from those surly, arrogant, and inefficient girls we've had to suffer 'elsewhere'; you'd hardly believe it!

47 comments:

  1. I stopped going to one doctor and found a different one in the past. The doctor was fine but the receptionist was so rude to me that I decided I'd had enough. She would not allow me to speak with the doctor when it was convenient for him and an available appointment was more than a month away (that was years ago when we could still speak with our doctor on the phone in the days before computer televisits) and the receptionist refused my request for a refill on my diabetic testing strips. She had the attitude that I was somehow going to get them at no charge from the pharmacy. I don't know how she thought I was able to that, but I got hot and told her that there was nothing free about those strips for me. We have good insurance and pay plenty for it, plus there is also a copay to pay on those strips. Then I hung up and never went to that doctor again. I was able to buy enough testing strips without a prescription out of pocket without our insurance paying for them until I could get in to see a different doctor.

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    1. The French take real pride in being arrogant and rude; it's almost a competition. What a difference to the UK, where people try to be as pleasant as possible at all times.

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  2. " She asked me if everything was OK; I tried to be honest, but being male I probably wasn't... she was very young and probably inexperienced".

    How true. My husband is an older male AND a doctor. So he both underestimates his own health issues and finds all other doctors too young and too experienced. Worst of both worlds.

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    1. I'm afraid that we men are known for it. Suffer, tell no-one, and carry on!

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  3. We phone our doctor now and he sends our months prescription to our phone. Down at the pharmacy we give them the SMS message number and hey presto we get a month's worth of meds. Heavily subsidised .
    3 month's supply means a trip to the doctor and a 10 euro fee.
    The doctors and the chemists here of course are known to us all and there's always cheery banter and a bit of gossip.
    We will be getting our 3rd jab soon too. And can't be too soon. Cases here are soaring

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    1. No-one seems to be taking any notice of Covid here. You really wouldn't think that it was a problem at all. Hardly anyone wears masks in shops. It all looks like the perfect beginning to a disaster, but maybe the Sea Air is keeping us safe.

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  4. What do you take for borderline diabetes? I just got told to eat less sugar, less carbs and exercise more. In other words, "Less fork, more walk". I'm supposed to be walking 5km per day, (ha!) and supposed to be losing 20kg.

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    1. It's what I call myself. I'm not a serious case. I'm almost certain that if I didn't take any pills, and ate a less decadent diet, that I would be fine. 'Less fork, more walk' sounds like a sensible idea.

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  5. Young and inexperienced doctor? Thanks for the reminder. Five years or so ago I had no idea what had happened to me. Flat on my back for two weeks. I resembled a slashed tyre with as much puff. When the Angel returned from his travels he pulled me, almost on my knees, to the surgery. That I made it to the doctor's office was a miracle that unsteady on my feet I was. What's the problem, she asked. I can't swallow, I said. And if I do I can't keep it down.

    So she took my blood pressure and told me, surprise, that I am dehydrated. That I need to drink more water. Yes, yes, doctor, but I just told you I can't keep anything down, not even water. I tried to raise another issue with her that I thought might be related to the swallowing difficulty. No, she said, you have to make another appointment for that. Honestly, Cro, what the eff?

    It was ridiculous. Once I'd recovered from whatever it was that plagued me I did phone my regular doctor to find out what the hell that locum was all about. He read me the notes she had made. Don't ask. He apologized.

    As to phone consultations, yes, since Covid they do happen.

    Anyway, glad you do get something for free (good sausages are expensive).

    U

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    1. I have written previously about how I'd make a very good Doctor. "Don't smoke, don't drink, eat less salt, take more exercise, lose weight". I think that covers everything.

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  6. I don't need my doctor very often these days, but when I do, I almost always have a telephone appointment. It's lovely. So easy. I'm glad you're happy in the UK.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. There are still a few things I'm having to get used to; yesterday I part-paid for my vegetables with an out of date £1 coin.... I had no idea!

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  7. It's good that the doctor wants to see you in a month's time. Don't forget to make the appointment and wear clean underpants as she may need to check out your nether regions.

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    1. What? My once a year change of Y Fronts? Not likely!

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  8. I think YP is thinking a manual prostate check. The usual straight man response is, a finger won't possibly fit in there.

    I need to see my physiotherapist for more exercise advice and some manipulation but it requires an initial telehealth consultation, which no doubt the government will have to pay for. Same with my skin cancer check doctor.

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    1. I probably need to see all sorts of specialists, but I'd rather not know. I have the signs of oncoming arthritis in my hips, but seeing as nothing can be done other than to replace them, I shall make do with exercise.

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  9. I am registered for online access to my GP record so all I have to do is log in and order my repeat prescription. I can then collect it from my nominated pharmacy the next day. Before Covid we could also book appointments online but now we have to do that by telephone. Still pretty painless though.
    I can even login to check my blood test results too.

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    1. I expect when I get things a bit more sorted that it'll all become simpler. For the moment it's all new.

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  10. Lloyds Direct Pharmacy is an excellent service for those with repeat prescriptions. After registering, you get an email reminded that your meds are running low, log in order a repeat and, if you wish, you can select the option to have them mailed to you. Very useful for those whose nearest pharmacy isn’t a short walk away.

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    1. That sounds like a good option. I'm not sure if there's a Lloyds nearby.

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  11. When I need more of my meds ( statins) I phone the pharmacy and tell them I need some more. ( It took about 30 secs altogether the other day) Then...about 5 days later they are delivered to my door! The delivery thing started during the first lock down , because I could actually collect them now, but it seems to be the easiest way!

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    1. I just hope that in a month's time the Doc' doesn't start telling me that I need 'This, That, and The Other'.

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    2. If he does, just say no thank you or you would prefer to think about it first. They are not god and they make suggestions, they get money sometimes from these suggestions and are motivated wrongly. I was told to go on statins in 2006. I said no thank you and said I would look into it. I found that I could achieve great help for me in other ways, not with pills.

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    3. On the whole I trust doctors. I have and had some excellent ones (on a human level). However, and I agree, Rachel, when the prescription pad comes out BEWARE.

      In the wake of a recent warning shot my body gave me I was prescribed a ton of stuff. WHAT? Anyway, so I read all the accompanying bumph. Not least contra indications. The fun part and when I decided to let nature take its course? Some of the medication was contra indicated to one or two of the OTHERS. That was that. I left the lot untouched.

      When I didn't take up the repeat prescriptions alarm was raised. I had several calls urging me to "take care" of myself. Thanks. I am touched by your concerns. But in the end it's my life and my death, my decision.

      Before any of you breathe a sigh of relief at my imminent demise: Don't. I am as fit as a fiddle. No letting up yet.

      U

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    4. I really don't like it when they say "You need to see a heart specialist, or a foot specialist, or eye specialist, etc, etc". All I want are my Diabetes pills; and nothing else.

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    5. It never ceases to amaze me the way people just toddle off to these appointments and never question anything. As with all trades and professions there are just as likely to be bad doctors as bad plumbers, builders, dentists etc. and you constantly hear 'my doctor said' as if he could never be wrong and has to be obeyed.

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    6. Cro, don't dice with your eyes. Trust me. I have had a few near misses that would have left me dire straights, with a cane to boot, if I hadn't had my eyes checked routinely (a bit like your six monthly dental). Don't forget the slogan: Should have gone to SpecSavers. Their technology is now such that they will pick up on problems and refer you immediately.

      Rachel, I agree. Where I come from the guys in white coats used to be revered. Indeed called gods. What it's like now in the motherland I don't know.

      On the other hand, and oh did we laugh, my (English) GP told me that doctors dread nothing more than those who google their symptoms. Suddenly the patient is an expert, and on their (potential) deathbed.

      U

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    7. We have recently had a case of a doctor here who botched three operations in a week causing terrible life changing injuries, chopped out the wrong organ in routine surgery. The hospital have refused to suspend him but just say he is now being supervised during operations. I believe it has been featured on a tv Despatches programme although I did not see it.

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  12. I’m not overly happy with GP’s …. they shut their doors when Covid struck …. I thought they were in the frontline ? …. & I’m not sure how much they can tell what’s wrong with you on a video call !!! Sorry, I’m not usually one to moan but I think GP’s let us down during the pandemic. XXXX

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    1. I had one UK doctor who always asked me what was wrong with me, then asked what I thought I should take for it. If I'd said Wine Gums, she'd have given me a prescription for them!

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  13. When it works as it should, the NHS is wonderful. I know there are problems and frustrations but I've been lucky enough to have had none so far.

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    1. I think the UK should take huge pride in the NHS, and continue to do so for as long as possible.

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  14. Insurance is a nightmare here, especially when you don't have it. Tim and I have been extraordinarily lucky in that regard. However, I will say, those problems and frustrations that Tasker alluded to are the stories we hear when the cry goes up for universal health care. We always here the downside of your system. The cry goes up "Socialism!" and then the subject is dropped and our broken system continues to hobble along.

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    1. I'm quite surprised that the USA doesn't have a State Health System like the NHS. If the UK can have one, I don't see why the USA shouldn't have one too. It ain't rocket science!

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  15. I don't go to the doctor very often. So I was amazed when my GP, who I've never met, actually called ME. She noticed that I had my HRT prescription via one of those online pharmacies for home delivery and was calling myself and other patients to ask that we consider getting them from the GP's own pharmacy, a 'use it or lose it' sort of thing, a bit like Amazon versus local shops. But as an aside, she also noticed in my notes that I hadn't had my blood pressure checked in years and it ought to be done again. As it happened, a brand new BP monitor was sitting on the desk beside me, having been just delivered that morning for my husband. So we were able to take readings for a week and email them to her. Happily absolutely normal for both of us. I quite like this online/telephone consultation new norm,it saves a journey and waiting in a waiting room with other sick people.

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    1. I have one of those BP monitors; the type that you wrap around your wrist. Unfortunately I left it in France!!!

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  16. I find many US primary care doctors are overwhelmed. Covid has caused lots of disruptions and the system is up-side-down. Change is hard for large institutions. You've done well navigating the NHS in the UK.

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    1. The NHS is regarded as a 'treasure'. It looks after us, and also after almost anyone who turns up here; often no questions are asked about 'residency'.

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    2. One of the problems with the NHS is nobody in management knows the mechanism for drawing up simple invoices. This accounts for losses of millions every year

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    3. If their annual budget was CUT, they might begin to make savings. Whilst they always demand a rise, there is no incentive.

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    4. In the US prescription drug costs are astronomical. All other countries negotiate drug costs. US pharmaceutical and insurance companies seem to keep costs high and often rising. (Pharma and insurance executives are very highly paid & they want to keep it that way.) My private insurance pays for prescriptions but someone else might mortgage their home to pay for care and drug costs.

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    5. I've heard about this. It would pay some prospective POTUS to promote the idea of National Insurance, and an American NHS. You are a rich country (not unlike the UK), and I cannot see why it wouldn't be doable.

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  17. Have only had one online medical visit after my sleep apnea testing. It was just to give results, so no problem. At the moment, I'm wearing a heart monitor for 30 days to see if my weird bp readings which are usually 102/64 occasionally spike during the night to 170/94 with a pulse of 120. And DH has borderline diabetes too. He takes his pills and eats what he wants. Seems to work.

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    1. My BP readings always go up in a Doctor's waiting room!

      DH and I obviously behave similarly; take the pills and ignore the rest. As you say, it works.

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  18. Good that you will get a further check in a month...that's a good sign.
    Boots, by the way is no longer an UK company...certain murmers about lack of corporation tax being paid as well.
    We stick to our local pharmacy or the one national chain that isn't offshore.. can't remember which that is offhand!!

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    1. Having read your comment I had to look-up Boots. I see they are owned by Walgreens; a US chain of Chemists. I had no idea. Is anything owned by the Brits anymore?

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