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AIBU?

To think if I want a blood pressure and cholesterol test I should be able to have one

89 replies

muttrat · 13/04/2017 10:19

Without having to wait until next Friday for a telephone conversation with my gp to discuss why before they let me book an appointment?

I'm 51, going through menopause, my grandmother died of heart disease. I want to start running but want to get everything checked first.

OP posts:

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muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:00

I managed to book a smear test on demand at the same time. No questions asked. No suggestion that I pay for it.

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Lelloteddy · 13/04/2017 11:02

How long since your previous smear test OP?

muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:02

I want one because I am 51 and going through menopause, the exact combo where heart problems become an issue.

He is not going to refuse me either so it's a complete waste of time having to go through the phone back system.

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muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:03

3 years (smear)

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Libitina · 13/04/2017 11:03

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 13/04/2017 11:05

Well you have 2 choices don't you. Wait forGP call or pay at a pharmacy.

This

If you are unwilling to pay then you have to wait.

Oh and you should have a smear test every 3 years that is why.

HTH.

Lelloteddy · 13/04/2017 11:06

So not so much smear 'on demand' then but more based on clinical recommendations and the national screening program?

MargotLovedTom1 · 13/04/2017 11:08

The practice obviously has their own reasons for having this policy. You could take it up with the practice manager if you want to find out why?

muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:08

Yes. Like blood pressure is:

"If you're in the 40-74 age group without a pre-existing condition, you can expect to receive a letter from your GP or local authority inviting you for a free NHS Health Check every five years. "

So they do offer them, free and regularly. You do not need to pay. I have just called back and asked the receptionist for a Free NHS HEALTH CHECK and she's booked me in for next Thursday!

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muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:10

So you can add that to the list of 'choices'.

Might be useful information.

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PigletWasPoohsFriend · 13/04/2017 11:11

You do not need to pay

No but you were complaining about the length of time to wait.

Emergency appointments come first not a general check up plus GP will be closesending from today until Tuesday!

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 13/04/2017 11:12

So you can add that to the list of 'choices'.

How PA

MrsJayy · 13/04/2017 11:13

Dh has to wait a fortnight for an appointment for what he suspects is a trapped nerve. You are demanding a routine appointment for a test that isn't urgent, as others have said pay a tenner for a cholesteral test the pharmacies provide these non urgent tests to take the strain from already understrain Gp surgeries all you want to do is go for a run go for a few walks till next friday. Yabvvu

muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:13

Not really PA.

It might help someone to know it's available. I may have been lucky and got a cancelled appt but still quicker than ridiculous call back system.

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NabobsFromNobHill · 13/04/2017 11:15

Bet you can well afford the tenner but you want it on the nhs as a "principle".
It's these millions of minor requests that could easily be diverted elsewhere that are ruining the NHS. The point of which was to improve healthcare for the people who couldn't afford it, not to give everyone everything for free.

muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:15

Mrsjayy

The appointment wasn't next Friday, the call back to see if I warranted being booked in for an appointment was next Friday.

But as there IS a national screening programme for this I have booked in for that instead. They test for diabetes and weigh you as well.

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muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:17

I am actually laughing at the idea that checking your blood pressure and checking for diabetes is a minor request.

And clearly the NHS don't think it is minor either, which is why they have a NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMME for it as I've explained up thread.

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hhorvath · 13/04/2017 11:18

GPs have to create the blood form. That's why you have to speak to them.

The reason behind this is so that the labs are not overwhelmed by pointless blood tests that get in the way of patients who are actually ill.

The NHS health check programme is different. But the number of people who phone up "just to have x y z" checked when asymptomatic is insane.

NabobsFromNobHill · 13/04/2017 11:18

It is a minor request when its because you want to go running. It's so minor you can get it done at Tesco.

MrsJayy · 13/04/2017 11:18

Yes I know the call back is next friday

Edballsisoneniftydancer · 13/04/2017 11:19

I really don't see the problem here. You don't want to pay for it, fair enuffski, so you get booked in for it, provided the GP thinks it's sound (I'm sure s/he will).

But it hardly sounds like it's a medical emergency so waiting a week or so is hardly the end of the world and will free the NHS up for actual emergencies

So in answer to your question: yes you should and yes you (very likely) will. Just not the minute you ask for it.

Spikeyball · 13/04/2017 11:19

If you had asked for the health check in the first place, you would have got it without all this fussing.

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HerBluebiro · 13/04/2017 11:19

It is a week's wait. Not a lifetime.

You might have never had it checked before but there are some people who would have a test every week if they could just wander in for it.

Do you know what other tests should accompany it? Are you going to have a diabetes check? A liver or kidney? If not, why not? If so, why? Do you know how to interpret them?

What do you think the test entails? Who is going to interpret the result? How are you planning on sharing your family history so the result can be interpreted? What will you do with the result? If high will you start treatment or will you want to do it by diet alone? If diet alone why aren't you doing that already?

You could book a smear directly because there is an established screening programme. You have been invited to attend for a smear. Had you been invited to attend for a cholesterol check you could book directly for one.

I was. My surgery sent me a letter inviting me to go for an over 40s health check. I booked directly with the hca. Then I got called back to see the gp to talk through the results.

But I didn't just turn up and demand they test me

Edballsisoneniftydancer · 13/04/2017 11:21

And clearly the NHS don't think it is minor either, which is why they have a NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMME for it as I've explained up thread

Yes you have: but that still does not justify your getting it more or less immediately. It is a national screening programme as you say. It's hardly all going to be done at once.

Not it's not minor, but no, it's not an emergency either.

muttrat · 13/04/2017 11:22

If you had asked for the health check in the first place, you would have got it without all this fussing.

I did ask for a health check - but not by the 'official' name as I didn't know it existed! Perhaps the receptionist could have suggested but that's probably not her remit. Once I googled and discovered it and knew what to ask for (I have never received a letter) there wasn't a problem.

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