About Me

My photo
I'm 57 years old, working full time, wife, mother and grand mother, wishing that I wasn't working full time! I love and enjoy our children and grandchildren, our dogs and cat, our garden and allotment. I love crafts - knitting, sewing, crocheting, patchwork and restoring old furniture. I love to go to country auctions and love thinking that I've got my self a bargain!

Thursday 28 July 2011

Whatever happened to.....

Whatever happened to the Doctors of yesteryear who had time to talk to you, explain everything to you and when you left the surgery you didn't feel like you'd just been a spare part on a conveyor belt.

Yes it's been one of those weeks this week - I went to Occupational Therapy at our local hospital on Monday as I have arthritis in my fingers, one middle finger in particular is really swollen. The last time I went I was given exercises for the said finger - this time she said she was pleased with that finger but not so happy with my thumb joints and wrist -  so I left this time with exercises for the thumbs plus supports for both thumbs and a wrist brace! From there is was a quick sprint from Occupational Therapy across the other side of the hospital to the X Ray department where the finger was x rayed.

Today I've been into the Doctors and was asked why was I there - I told her that they'd wrote to me, telling me to go in because they had the results to a recent blood test - "Oh she says! Yes you're still anaemic - I'll send you to see a Gastroenterologist"......."right OK" I said  - "Whilst I'm here could I just ask".. "Oh no sorry not enough time you'll have to book a further appointment" she said and at that I was out of the door!

Turns out that although I booked this appointment 2 weeks ago she happened to be the duty doctor today so if anyone turns up needing a doctor urgently she's the one you see, so patients who have had a legitimate appointment for 2 weeks then get a poor service!

I remember when I was little we had a 'family' doctor, and he had a lovely kind receptionist called Mollie - they both always had 'time' for you and he had the deepest voice you've ever heard - strangely enough I now work in the same old building that was where his surgery was and every time I walk down the long corridor to our kitchen it reminds me of when I used to walk down the same corridor to his room as a child.

Different service completely to this morning! But that's progress for you............

Hope that you're all having a good week  - Byee

3 comments:

  1. Our Dr is great, he explains things well, draws pictures, discusses etc The nurse practitioner,however, is NOT. I went in for a full annual physical and was hustled out the door (halfway through) and told to re book as she was overbooked and they were closing for lunch NOW! I was so mad I was speechless.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thats an interesting point Trudie. I wanted to ask about something else when attending a medication review, but the receptionist would not let me book a "double appointment" like I used to be able to do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Don't think I want to go there! My fond memories make it seem even worse these days as you so rightly show./

    ReplyDelete