NHS Rant and Praise

biggaz26

Appologies this is a bit long!!

Ive recently found myself with a number of worrying symptons that lead me to believe I may be Diabetic.

I took a free test at Lloyds Chemist and was told my blood glucose reading was 30.9 and I should go to my doctors asap.

Later that day I went to see me Doctor and was refered for a fasting blood test the next day and to make an oppointment for 3 or 4 days later for the results

Along I went and had my blood taken, the very next day I have a call from the doctor telling me I am diabetic (type 2) and that I should make an appointment to see a diabetic nurse as soon as possible.

So far very impressed.

Went along to see the diabetic nurse who's first available appointment was just over a week after the test results, no problem.

However, when I got there she had no idea why I was there. She asked me what i knew of diabetes adn I told her. Good she said. Handed me abouot a dozen or so printed pages took my blood, which red somewhere just over 20, and told me to watch what I eat, reduce sugar etc and to come back for another fasting blood test at the end of December.

I have been told by a number of people that this is not enough. I should have a personal care plan, appointments with dieticians, podiatrists? and refered to an eye clinic for some test.

Today I made an appointment with a GP at my surgery recommended to me by a lady who works in a local chemist.

He has told me this morning that i should be on medication immediately and testing my blood glucose levels regularly.

If i hadnt pushed because I wasnt happy with the results of my previous appointment I wouldnt have had this for months.

Anyway...best and worst or the NHS right there for you.

Anyone else had anythin similar, I'd like to know so I can understand if it was just a one off or if this sort of thing goes on all over the NHS

Cheers

G

Butterfly_Brain

I have the same but with an Asthma nurse, waste of time going to her.

MamaMoo_2

I have similar with my midwife. I've had to push to have tests done at the hospital, as my midwife hasn't bothered sending me an appointment for 18 weeks (and she has to send out appointments, I can't book one apparently)
And the hospital itself is pretty poor. The blood nurse can never get blood from me, so calls in a shedload of colleages to play "find the vein" totally ignoring me telling them where my good veins are!
At my last clinic appointment, I told them I was worried about early labour and listed some issues I was having. I was fobbed off completely.

My GP is totally useless (won't book me in with a heart consultant that I have to see, so I'm having to go around the GP as this consultant wants to see every family member)
Also prescribed my son (who was 4 months at the time) a course of antibiotics that he shouldn't have had and didn't need.

Caroline73_2

The only way to stop poor NHS practice is to complain about it through the official channels. Please do this, nothing can be rectified otherwise.

pmduk

Contact Diabetes UK (02074241000) They have useful guides telling you what tests you should be having and when. Some Doctors choose not to bombard you with tests at once to avoid overstressing you. As for testing blood glucose levels attitudes seem to vary by area, it's very expensive for the NHS to provide the testing strips, I found them very useful when first diagnosed, but now don't bother, relying on a 6 monthly blood test which gives me some idea of how the blood sugar has been over the past 120 days.

If your GP decides that treatment by diet alone is insufficient for you make sure you ask him/her to sign form FP95 which will give you all of your medications free for 5 years, (not just the diabetes related ones.)

In the long tem it's best to become more assertive. It's your body and only you will have to live with the consequences of complications.

biggaz26

THanks for the replies at least I know I am not alone.

Saw a different Diabetic Nurse last night and am now on Meds and testing blood glucose daily.

To be fair since I went back and kicked up a little bit of a stink I have had excellet treatment.

Shame you have to get angry to get anywhere

one_bill_at_a_time

I think sometimes they all just get overworked.

I got put on the pill to deal with some other symptoms and my GP decided that we'd have to actively monitor my high blood pressure and booked me in for various tests and follow ups. Very impressed.

I come to my follow up appointment and he asked me why I'm there as my readings weren't that high anyway ... he then read his own previous notes and caught up with himself... ho hum we got there in the end, I think.

Now if the lab would stop losing / selling my blood life would be a lot easier.

tootles