The power of the Trade Unions may well have been broken in the UK, but the BMA (British Medical Association) wields power Arthur Scargill could have only dreamt about. Only last week, there was an announcement that GP practices, that's the doctor to you and me, will no longer be subject to spot checks to make sure they are performing enough face to face consultations. All a GP has to do is say they are! As anyone who has been ill recently will tell you, getting an appointment, let alone seeing the doctor, is nearly impossible these days. It's almost as if they don't want to see ill people anymore? I needed to have some blood taken to check my cholesterol levels. I also needed to discuss being sent for Cardiology tests again as it now turns out I do have a heart condition that has gone untreated for two years, but that's a whole other story.
I knew things were probably going to go downhill the moment I arrived. Our Health Centre has three practices under one roof, and I have to say mine is awful in terms of customer care. The two other practices looked to be open; mine had their blinds pulled firmly down and yet I could hear talking behind them.
Fellow Patient: "What time do they open? My appointment is 8.00 am"
Me: "So is mine!"
Fellow Patient: "What? How can we both be eight o'clock?"
Me: "Doesn't surprise me with this lot, I'm shocked they even know how to dress themselves!"
A woman came out and looked taken aback that people were sitting waiting. After explaining that we both had appointments, we were bustled down the corridor to await the syringe.
Fast-forward and on the way out, I needed to organise to have all the cardiac tests I had two and half years ago all over again because basically nobody had bothered to send me the results, and I've not had any treatment over that period of time. As with most places, our doctors had some of those perspex screens installed to stop anyone coughing COVID all over them hopefully; the only problem with theirs is there is only a small letterbox size opening, so there I was telling the whole of reception my medical problems because the ancient woman behind the counter couldn't hear me through the screen.
Receptionist: "I can't hear you, can you come to the side please and tell me."
I moved to the side where there was a foot (30.48cm for all you EU bods) gap between the wall and the screen, and in my head, I thought: "What's the point of a screen if I have to be face-to-face to speak to you?" 🤦♂️
Just another example of the stupidity of my doctor's practice. Oh, and their clock is five minutes slow! 🤷♂️
My actual name is Pete. Here is why I have the username dickturpin.
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