Can I have a moan?!

[Emeraldwaters]

Just back from a ten day UK holiday. A couple of days in severe pain, a couple of days where slept 18+ hours (long covid, so this part was expected), a couple of days in hospital and at doctor for three others, lots of time on hold for medical reasons. I have to have a surgical wound unpacked and repacked every two days and have been told no GP appointments for that at my surgery. I'm going to have to wait for around three hours a time at walk-in clinic, with three kids. Often I only have about 4-5 very semi-functional hours a day due to long covid. Having severe mama guilt.

Can you learn to dress your wound yourself?

Make official compliant to your GP.

Wound needs unpacking, injecting with saline, measuring and repacking inside with ribbon bandage before it's dressed again each time.

can you ask for the district nurse to come to you and do it?

do you have a partner? If so they need to take some time off and step up.

When I had a breast abscess excised after having DD, the district nurse came to me every day for a few weeks. Is that an option?

Do you have to be referred for a district nurse?

Irony is we'll probably pick something else up here! How much coughing in one waiting room?!

Walk-in centre said GP surgery should be doing it. GP surgery won't and said walk-in would give me some pre-bookable appointments after my first appointment. Walk-in centre say they won't and to expect a three hour wait each time. I'm so fed up of hold music and being dicked around when I have so little energy anyway.

That's awful you poor thing. Moaning permission granted.

Try PALS? And your local councillor …

And the press. The Times are running a long term campaign to improve the quality if NHS services.

Do you have a minor injuries near you? I had a tunnel type wound that needed unpacking and repacking daily and then every few days as it healed, and I was told to go to minor injuries to see nurses.

Certainly feels like something a nurse at your GP’s could do; doesn’t need the doctor themselves.

@GoingRoundThatBlockAgain I've been told to go to minor injuries walk-in, but there are no pre-bookables, hence told to expect a three hour wait each time. I'm trying not to majorly crash and impact my kids more (long covid). Silly things like planning what I need for the day so that I'm less likely to need to go back upstairs. Will I manage to wash my hair AND have enough time to rest in between getting dressed.

I'm on the two week pathway (another holiday surprise) and need three appointments for that - that will wipe me out. Will I manage the drive AND the appointment? What can we cut out to afford taxi fare if I can't? How many all-nighters will partner have to pull or unpaid leave will he have to take to cover the appointments and the pretty inevitable crash after?

Are they now

Does this campaign include discussion of 14 years of underfunding under the Conservatives, the party The Times usually supports?

Ring the GP surgery and ask the receptionist for the district nurses contact number.

You’ll probably have to leave a message for the district nurses but I’ve always found they ring back the same day.

Explain what you need and they will tell
you if this is their remit.

The district nurse input will give you some continuity of care and they will monitor the healing and refer to tissue viability team if needed.

This sounds very draining.

Has the practice manager been involved? They may be able to help. If not approach the correct place for complaints and copy in your local MP, this sometimes encourages action.

But yes feel free to moan

You took the words right out of my mouth. Bunch of gits.

They don't have capacity. Hate this illness. District nurses can only be referred to if housebound 24/7.

Anyone got any ideas of what to draft to practice manager? Cannot push thru anymore today. Can't make walk in today. Pushed thru to make it to a different hospital to collect pre med stuff and drop kids off.

I would get the e mail contact for PALS, ring the surgery and ask for the e mail contact for the surgery manager.

Draft something like this in one e mail to both parties:

“Dear practice manager

I am contacting to request your support with my situation.

I have a (insert wound name) that requires packing and redressing every two days.

I have been advised that the surgery do not have the capacity to provide appointments for this. The district nurses are also not able to complete the wound care due to their lack of service capacity.

As a result I have to attend a walk in clinic where the wait can be three hours before I am seen.

I have long Covid and this is having a severe detrimental affect on my day to day living. The situation re my wound treatment is impacting further and some days I am unable to attend the clinic as per my treatment plan.

I am requesting that you please have a conversation with the community matron and the tissue viability community team manager to establish a manageable treatment plan that will minimise the effect on my health and also avoid any deterioration of the wound due to my health not allowing for me to attend the walk in clinic as per the treatment plan.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards “

Thank you.

No worries, let me know how you get on.

Oh darling that sounds like you're carrying so much weight on your shoulders just now. No advice, just sympathy and acknowledgment xx

@Shallysally that's a great email. Send that email today @Emeraldwaters and at least you'll feel as though you've taken an action towards something and hopefully you'll get some better care.

A PP worded a great letter. In addition, could you contact PALS as well? They seemed to sort things out when my son broke his arm and things weren't being sorted properly.
I hope things get better for you.