I went to a carer's health check at my GP (Kensington) yesterday. I care for my elderly mum and I feel I am losing my mind some days. I am learning about the options available to me but the NHS offers a health check to monitor the affect on your health. I told them i was carer (I am unpaid) so I could get covid jabs to protect mum during lockdown as she lives with me.
So the nurse did the health check. She asked me: who do you care for (they already have that info), do you drink ( a bit), do you smoke? She didn't take my weight but asked me if I knew it. I thought it was a bit half-arsed. What is my height - well i assume its still the same but you have the equipment, presumably.
I thought it was odd that she didn't ask me how much i drink (1 or 2 glasses a week).
I was waiting for the bit of the check where I was asked if I was coping because I would say no and discuss how this might be affecting my mum, but it wasn't mentioned. I didn't complain because she struck me as so unprofessional. She seemed bored and did the whole thing with a kind of smirk on her face.
I don't think the NHS HAVE to ask specific questions but it is best practice to.
But i checked my NHS notes online to see about a prescription and the report of the checkup is nothing like the meeting. The alcohol questions are part of Alcohol use disorder identificatn test so they are. checking if you are dealing with caring by booze. She wrote this: "
How often do you have a drink containing Alcohol?: Monthly or less; How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day when you are drinking?: 1 or 2; How often have you had 6 or more units if female, or 8 or more if male, on a single occasion in the last year.: Never". That's all made up! She just guessed correctly. Why do that in a health check. I'm sitting in front of her.
I was also apparently asked if i can cope and said yes. (Nope).
There is an extra line:Alcohol intake (136..) 1 Units/Week
I was "advised of influenza vaccine". nope.
"Assessment of needs offered to carer". nope.
It continues like this.
This seems so bad. Yes or no?