Chat Thread

[Hooped]

What does Mrs D drive?

D5, slowly around the bend?

[D5equj5]

What does Mrs D drive ?

Wouldn’t someone towing a horse box do a better job ?

A little Jimny.
Apparently it has to be this gate as it is half the price of others closer to home.

[piwacket]

Apparently it has to be this gate as it is half the price of others closer to home.

… and has Mrs D suggested how you get it’s/

[mikejee]

D5
What an excelent opportunity to get some useful use out of the horses. Two of them , each supporting one side of the gate. Far more use than jumping over a lot of fences , and a bit less twee

[Voiceoftreason?]

Ooof, postage in that gate will be a bit. No horsey friends to help collect it? Won’t the cost of petrol outweigh the saving?

In other news, waited all day for bleddy doc from call (booked 3 WEEKS ago as first one available). Leave the phone ONCE to go into kitchen at 615 to cook food, phone rings 3 times and cuts off. No voicemail, no text. Call the surgery, spend 25 minutes on hold (you are number one on the list) then give up. It’s now just before 7. No idea if I’ll get any call today. But then, I can always join the bunfight that’s reception triage at 8 tomorrow morning. Need to get on right away as the queue system only allows 20 on.

Absolutely useless.

Is this the kind of service that these people would want for THEIR family??

[lizwing]

And GPS are threatening to strike, will anybody notice?

[Voiceoftreason?]

And GPS are threatening to strike, will anybody notice?

Not this patient.

It’s awful, Liz. I’m sitting here knowing I need to speak to a doc and I’ve no way of contacting them. I’m reliant on them MAYBE calling me tonight. I have in the back of my mind they call up to 8pm but who knows. Can’t believe they cut the call after 3 rings. It even enough to trigger voicemail.

[piwacket]

[ Can’t believe they cut the call after 3 rings. It even enough to trigger voicemail.

If we’ve got a call booked, they first try the house number, then a couple of minutes later ring whichever mobile No. - why don’t yours do that? Unless of course they don’t have your mobile No.?

[Voiceoftreason?]

[ Can’t believe they cut the call after 3 rings. It even enough to trigger voicemail.

If we’ve got a call booked, they first try the house number, then a couple of minutes later ring whichever mobile No. - why don’t yours do that? Unless of course they don’t have your mobile No.?

It was on my mobile, Pi. I’ve just got off the phone from them. Script to pick up tomorrow and even more tests.......

[piwacket]

It was on my mobile, Pi. I’ve just got off the phone from them. Script to pick up tomorrow and even more tests.......

Ah! Result! That’s good but sorry to hear you have more tests.

[maggieaitch]

Pi, have I missed a request for a contribution for running the forum.? I was away for a few days last week and as the subject hasn't been raised since I got back, I wouldn't want to miss paying.

[D5equj5]

It's outrageous the way patients are treated and it certainly seems to have got considerably and increasingly worse since covid gave the excuse for gp's not actually to be seeing their patients face to face.
There is a shortage of trained GP's though.
We all harp back to the days where a gp would stop in on his way home, just to check on us kids and make sure mum wasn't struggling.
The difference is that our health service used to be service orientated whereas now it all centers on finances and they'll pay enormous amounts on specialist consultants to tell them how to save money but the expensive consultants never seem to say "stop paying enormous amounts of cash on expensive consultants and spend the money you save on giving the patients what they need"

[Voiceoftreason?]

It was on my mobile, Pi. I’ve just got off the phone from them. Script to pick up tomorrow and even more tests.......

Ah! Result! That’s good but sorry to hear you have more tests.

Just added them on to the next lot, Pi

It pains me, no pun intended, to complain about the healthcare profession but they don’t help themselves sometimes. The chuffing receptionists should NEVER have been given permissions to triage patients. I can honestly say that in the past 12 months, I’ve spent probably 8 of them, waiting for appointments, seeing DIFFERENT doctors, having DIFFERENT opinions - some of which turned out to be incorrect once you’ve seen a Consultant - and queuing up for various tests. I’m convinced that not getting in front of a GP, and them having hands on, has dragged this out far longer than needs be.

TBH, it’s the worry that gets to,you, not whatever is wrong with you. I feel guilty complaining, especially when there are other forumites worse off than me. I’m not used to being under par!

[piwacket]

Pi, have I missed a request for a contribution for running the forum.? I was away for a few days last week and as the subject hasn't been raised since I got back, I wouldn't want to miss paying.

No you haven’t missed anything Maggie. TBH we (the Mods) are still trying how best to set this up that satisfies all the needs. Admittedly this got delayed over the `jubilee weekend, but we’re back on it now.

[piwacket]

Just added them on to the next lot, Pi

…The chuffing receptionists should NEVER have been given permissions to triage patients……

The power of being the ‘gate-keeper’ - its gradually been coming over the years. Is it an ‘official’ authority given to them, or just one they’ve gradually developed. With one or two exceptions, the receptionists at our surgery are in fact quite helpful - but the exceptions can be immovable to the point of being downright rude… and they vary in attitude depending which surgery.

….We all harp back to the days where a gp would stop in on his way home, just to check on us kids and make sure mum wasn't struggling.
The difference is that our health service used to be service orientated whereas now it all centers on finances and they'll pay enormous amounts on specialist consultants to tell them how to save money but the expensive consultants never seem to say "stop paying enormous amounts of cash on expensive consultants and spend the money you save on giving the patients what they need"

Oh yes, Those were the days. Now one has to be unwell in (their) working hours - and certainly not at weekends! Our surgery even has a message when you phone, suggesting that rather than wanting to see a GP, you go to see a Pharmacist

[Voiceoftreason?]

My last meds’ review was done by some random pharmacist, not a GP. I was therefore not able to ask them what the end game was, I.e. how long do we continue current regime and then what? Got a repeat prescription, but all that’s done is kick the can down the street.

[D5equj5]

Two weeks now since getting a used needle stuck in my arm during the course of my work. I kinda thought there might have been something from work. A report or risk assessment or something but I wasn't expecting a wall of silence ...

[Voiceoftreason?]

Two weeks now since getting a used needle stuck in my arm during the course of my work. I kinda thought there might have been something from work. A report or risk assessment or something but I wasn't expecting a wall of silence ...

In my naïvety, I thought that had been progressed D5. Email your line manager for an update, ask if Occy Health have been approached to speak with you (well-being and all that) and what happened to the needlestick report (there WAS one made, wasn’t there.......?)

[maggieaitch]

Thanks,Pi.

[OLDMAN]

Good Morning One and All

Another busy one today but looks like it may get quiet for a while next week

Odd start to the day, its dry / clear but the light was odd as it looked a hazy yellow, very strange to drive in it

As for drive in - good / clear / steady and no numpties – but did what one WTF silly
Outskirts of Basingstoke and could see two cars way ahead, both went straight into L2 as DC emerged – I stayed in L1, then pulled out to pass another car but couldn’t move back as they paced me....................NOTHING else in sight
Could just see the two up ahead and was slowly catching them, and road still completely clear apart from them, me and the other car beside me
Then at the last moment just before the Ringway roundabout the lead car ahead suddenly indicated and moved into the LHL in one movement, then into the next lane as that appeared, to then turn off left at the junction – and this was well after passing signs that say where to go!
Second car went right at the junction as did I, car beside me went towards M3 – so we where all in the correct lanes
Seemed to be out and out, blatant L2 hogging by that one driver for absolutely no reason.................WHY?

[windrush]

Morning all, a nice bright one outside. Just knocked up a pie for dinner today and tomorrow, awaiting a butcher's delivery now. Our surgery is very good and I can't really fault it (I'm on the PPG so can readily complain if it isn't up to scratch!) and seems to work well now things have returned to normal following lockdown. The receptionists (behind the scenes, not the front of house ones) book appointments and refer you to the appropriate person for your problem, be it nurse/skin specialist/ GP or mental health department, and you can usually get a phone conversation within a few days or even a face to face appointment. They do prefer you to visit A & E for anything major as that's where you are likely to end up anyway and it saves wasting a GP's time. I got an appointment last week just over an hour after phoning for one (was with her for 40 minutes or so) and have another next wednesday, I expected it to be via telephone but my GP said to come down as it will get you away from Mrs Windrush for an hour or so! Bless her, she does look after me!

Pete.

[piwacket]

‘Morning distinctly grey and overcast out there…. Maybe it’ll rain - probably not.

Pete - sounds like you get good service from the NHS there… someone on another Forum who’s in Lincolnshire - been complaining about a dodgy hip, saw a consultant last week, agreed she needed a hip replacement op… that’s happening on Monday - late OH who hailed from there and also said ‘how great the NHS was’ - to which I then commented things were different down here - laughed at that, until the day came when he experienced what I meant… over populated South East….

[C.A.Versham]

I agree that the increased population in our area without any substantial increase in the provision of medical or dental services is at the heart of the problem. The army of NHS strategic managers and planners seem to take forever to get anything done. Who exactly ensures that additional services are provided when all the flats and housing developments are approved?

[Voiceoftreason?]

I agree that the increased population in our area without any substantial increase in the provision of medical or dental services is at the heart of the problem. The army of NHS strategic managers and planners seem to take forever to get anything done. Who exactly ensures that additional services are provided when all the flats and housing developments are approved?

Short answer? No one. Unless there is a specific requirement from any local council at the planning stage, why would any commercial organisation spend money on those when they can bang up another lot of houses instead (rhetorical question ). Often, there are requirements from councils to developers to provide cash for various things - highways, environment etc.

IIRC there is meant to be a county-wide say, five or ten year, plan, taking into account population, age, etc, that drives the overall development plans, and hence planning permissions etc, for housing, hospitals and so on. The Council and various NHS Commissioning Groups would, I presume, be involved.

[D5equj5]

Two weeks now since getting a used needle stuck in my arm during the course of my work. I kinda thought there might have been something from work. A report or risk assessment or something but I wasn't expecting a wall of silence ...

In my naivety, I thought that had been progressed D5. Email your line manager for an update, ask if Occy Health have been approached to speak with you (well-being and all that) and what happened to the needlestick report (there WAS one made, wasn’t there.......?)

No VoT, not naivety, it is the factory after all.

[OLDMAN]

Morning all, a nice bright one outside. Just knocked up a pie for dinner today and tomorrow, awaiting a butcher's delivery now. Our surgery is very good and I can't really fault it (I'm on the PPG so can readily complain if it isn't up to scratch!) and seems to work well now things have returned to normal following lockdown. The receptionists (behind the scenes, not the front of house ones) book appointments and refer you to the appropriate person for your problem, be it nurse/skin specialist/ GP or mental health department, and you can usually get a phone conversation within a few days or even a face to face appointment. They do prefer you to visit A & E for anything major as that's where you are likely to end up anyway and it saves wasting a GP's time. I got an appointment last week just over an hour after phoning for one (was with her for 40 minutes or so) and have another next wednesday, I expected it to be via telephone but my GP said to come down as it will get you away from Mrs Windrush for an hour or so! Bless her, she does look after me!

Pete.

We get the same through our surgery - they only have one high and mighty receptionist who thinks she knows it all but when she start asking silly questions I now start saying embarrassing things (as I would if the doctor) - and it works!

[windrush]

I agree that the increased population in our area without any substantial increase in the provision of medical or dental services is at the heart of the problem. The army of NHS strategic managers and planners seem to take forever to get anything done. Who exactly ensures that additional services are provided when all the flats and housing developments are approved?

Same problem here really, our town has almost doubled with the amount of new homes either already built/under construction or planned. However at nearby Darley Dale they have built a new health centre plus a pharmacy to cope with the influx....and are now constructing yet another large housing estate alongside to use up the land left over from it so the problem will continue!

Pete.

[Hooped]

We had a new health centre about 20 years ago, including a pharmacy which residents in the village are not allowed to use! Anyone living in the village has to take their prescription to the independent pharmacy in the village centre. The health centre has recently joined forces with three others, and one of the benefits of this is that instead of having to see the same doctor as last time, in the building that is a ten minute walk from my home, I could be offered the opportunity to see a doctor in one of two other towns! I look forward to the conversation where I am given that opportunity!

[windrush]

We had a new health centre about 20 years ago, including a pharmacy which residents in the village are not allowed to use! Anyone living in the village has to take their prescription to the independent pharmacy in the village centre. The health centre has recently joined forces with three others, and one of the benefits of this is that instead of having to see the same doctor as last time, in the building that is a ten minute walk from my home, I could be offered the opportunity to see a doctor in one of two other towns! I look forward to the conversation where I am given that opportunity!

We are much the same here Hooped as if one surgery is busy we have the option of visiting one of the ones in outlaying villages. So far this hasn't happened as all the surgeries operate on different booking and online systems so would not be able to view patients notes, and the only other local surgery 200 yards from our one refused to co-operate with ours and decided to join forces with a practice in Tideswell which is almost 20 mile distant!
Just nipped into our pharmacy to collect a prescription for some leg dressings, however they are not available until next week but they gave me some anti-depression tablets which unknown to me the GP had requested for me! I don't have time to be depressed but will take them anyway, I'm now awaiting a call back from the surgery regarding a problem with Mrs Windrush as her legs appear to be filling with fluid.

Pete.

[D5equj5]

Good morning forum,
It looks to be a fine day outside.
Today is to be a day of duty-calls - it's good for the soul at least.
visit FIL in hosp - he had a fall and damaged a few bits and pieces, The hosp (Frimley Park) were worried because he wasn't responding to questions and it took them a full day to realise his hearing aid batteries were flat, visit MIL for a while, then A wedding to attend - I think it is a distant cousin of Mrs D whom we've not met, it is still not clear whether we will take MIL to the wedding or not. Somehow the youngling got away with telling Mrs D he didn't want to go.
Just time for a sh, sh, shave before Mrs D gets home from the stables and all hell breaks loose as she dashes around ranting that she is the only one who does anything around here. Bless her.
It'll all be fine in the end
pip pip

[Voiceoftreason?]

Greetings Earthlings - sunny out. Up at 630 and awake since 430 so time for second breakfasts now. Shopping later -groan - but needs must.

Couple of new windows fitted Thursday and cladding fitted yesterday. Must say that new windows make a lot of difference to the sound levels coming from outside. phase I compete but umpteen phases still to go

The Alledged - and I’ll be very careful how I break this to you - is going to buy.......paint. And a paint brush. And getting dust sheets. And rubbing things down (ooof, Matron). These things may not all happen simultaneously, or even today, and the application of paint via the paint brush to a solid surface could take some time, but the intention is there.

I dunno. Retirement does funny things to a man. Pity the DIY is 30 odd years too late! He should have stuck with buying an inappropriate car or started surfing lessons. Oh, wait........

[mikejee]

Just make sure he does the rubbing down before the painting , not after

[piwacket]

‘Morning sunny now and then, ‘gentle breeze’ aka gusty wind, blowing out there, so washing going on the line shortly.

…. And getting dust sheets.

?? No old bed sheets to be used?

,
….then A wedding to attend -…

… not in harem pants hopefully

[Voiceoftreason?]

Just make sure he does the rubbing down before the painting , not after

I would at that but.....

No, no old bedsheets Pi. His dads got the pukka sheets so he will use them. Uh no, heels just arrived back. Seems it might be too windy to sand down arm the moment........

[Mayfield]

Just watching Beth Rigby on Sky, interviewing the PM and making the phrase “most Voters’ sound like a sexual habit ….whoops