So angry! This will cost lives

[hellywelly3]

Anyone who has been trying to get a doctors appointment will now how difficult it is at the moment. Took an hour most days just to get through to reception. I had a nightmare getting a face to face appointment for a breast problem that I wanted looking at. I had 2 telephone ones first but eventually got a face to face one. I was examined and was told I would be referred to the breast clinic as it was agreed something felt not right. I got a telephone call after a few days offering me an appointment 8 days later. I felt so relieved that it was finally been taken seriously. Then this evening I got a phone call from hospital saying the consultant in charge of the clinic won’t see anyone due to COVID restrictions and now my appointment has been changed to a telephone one 2 days later! I said to the woman on the phone that it really wasn’t good enough and how can you fully assess someone over the phone. She said completely understood etc but she was just the messenger. I said this will cost people their lives to which she agreed and said I should tell my concerns to the consultant when they call. I really feel like crying I’m so worried. Sometimes it’s hard to describe a problem on the phone and I’m worried it will just get dismissed.

[quote Flyonawalk]@youshouldbeplotting I have not looked into his personal views. He is a respected economist.[/quote]
I am not so sure he is "respected" and his personal views very much influence his research. I am not so sure he is "respected". There was a lot about him on the now deleted State of Fear threads. His research methods have been called in to question in the past. For example, he carried out some very flawed research into the educational attainmentof children with gay/lesbian parents.

familyinequality.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/the-douglas-allen-study-of-canadian-children-of-gaylesbian-parents-is-worthless/

The lack of urgency is really concerning in light of your recent updates. I understand hospitals have a backlog due to the pandemic and may have staffing issues due to self isolating but I still think there are a lot of fake covid excuses being made to justify poor service.

My GP surgery say they are busier than ever and I wonder if the telephone appointments for things that require a face to face consultation are a false economy with multiple phone calls taking place before correct diagnosis and treatment are delivered via a face to face appointment. The receptionist at my GP advised me to call and exaggerate my problem if I wanted a same day phone call, I don't want to do that but there is no option for advanced booking so I either exaggerate or don't get an appointment.

@hellywelly3

So what happens to the 10-20 people that don’t now get seen?

Some get telephone appointments, some get seen as a priority over less urgent patients, who in turn get delayed, and some get seen less frequently, or discharged.