Fed Up

Hi Jane. Sorry to her you are having problems seeing a GP. I understand your frustrations. I was on the phone to my GP the other day and was in a queue for 20 minutes before getting through. I hope somebody here can offer you some advice. Best wishes.

Thanks rily,I can empathise with the waiting around on the phone.That's all I seem to have been doing in recent months (mainly to the department of work and pensions).It would be something if I could just speak to a dr.I had the best gp ever when I lived in Bath and was very upset to learn he had died of cancer.We did have 2 good doctors at the health centre but they have both left.

Hello Jane,

In a word, 'Yes!' In my town in West Wilts we have one health centre for 10.6k residents soon to be 11k folk given the new housing development.

We are meant to phone in so that later in the day a doctor can triage us over the phone. Just one problem, the phone is always busy. So we go to the centre at 0830 and join the snaking queue. I needed a blood test recently to discover its a 2 week wait for an appointment. It's a dogs breakfast. 

To jump the queue when I was unwell post cystectomy, I went to A&E and was admitted to the urological ward I lived in for 5 weeks. 

Don't suffer, phone your CNS and the ward where you recovered.

CB

Yes same here regards seeing doctor, if I was you I would phone your CNS up and discuss the problem with them if you think it’s something to do with the cancer, best of luck. Xx

Hi Jane lets hope you get some help tomorrow all I can advise make a list of Questions you need the answers to, Maybe the person you see at the surgery can speed things up for you All the best harry xx

Hi Jane

I hope this all gets sorted soon.  My thoughts will be with you tomorrow

Love Inanna

Hi Jane, feel free to moan, you have had major surgery and you deserve a bit of backup care. I had a hysterectomy 25 years ago and I vividly remember trying to walk the dog round the park and needing to sit down on every park bench we passed. I felt like that for at least.a couple of months after the surgery. Healing takes it out of you. Hope you get some proper advice and support tomorrow. xxx

As others have said. Ring your CNS. We always get in a queue on the phone for 20-30 minutes but usually get an appointment same day. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you all so much for your advice and support.I have just come back from seeing a very helpful nurse.She was suprised that I had had no contact with the cancer support people at the health centre so has contacted them to ask them to phone me.My abdomen was examined and everything seems ok.We both thought it was most likely to be bowel related as I am still having problems with constipation.I have had no contact with my CNS despite the fact that she has been contacted by other health care professionals.I only get the answering machine and don't really know what message to leave as I feel angry about the lack of support.Fingers crossed that I will get some support from the health centre at long last.Love to you all Jane XX

Hi Jane

I've just written a message & lost it, so I shall try again.

I usually ring at 8, well just before to try & sneak in first, the message says that surgery is still closed.  So I ring again, bang on 8, & I'm 12th in the queue?  If they answer after about 20 minutes it's to say that all appointments are gone & to try again the next day …..  I could honestly weep sometimes.

I've discovered that I can book an appointment online, earliest one is for 3 weeks time.  But if I fill in  the box telling them what is wrong with me, I always mention the C word.  Next day I look again at the appointments & surprise surprise they can fit me in next day!  

One time I rang & explained that I needed to see a nurse because of having op for bladder cancer & I wanted antibiotics for UTI.  It's quite straight forward usually, but not this time as the new receptionist asked if I wanted them to look at my womb 

Hope you're feeling better soon, & that you get things sorted xxx