What a stupid system and waste of time

[pinkbasket]

I have to wait for 2 weeks to see a doctor to ask for a blood form, then wait up to 2 weeks for a nurse appointment to take the blood then another 10 days for the results, then goodness knows how long to get another appointment to get the prescription needed for the medication/or to discuss the results and what to do next if they come back negative. [really really fed up emoticon]

Oh dear, that sounds like a long wait. What has been the problem? Maybe people on here could suggest alternate action or things that may help in the mean time during the wait??

And re the wait for the blood test appointment, in my area the local hospital has a drop in service every week day where you just turn up with your form and take a ticket then get it done there and then. Could you find out if anything like this is available in your area - that might cut a bit of time off the wait?

I have managed to find somewhere I can get the bloods taken the date I get the form but I will still have to wait for the results. DH wants me to go privately but I am unsure about that. I am pretty sure I know what is wrong (hypothyroidism) and will need tablets. Just feeling really low physically at the moment, my vision is starting to go and I have a headache coming.

Could you ask for a telephone appointment with your GP? You may be able to get a quick phone call sorted a lot sooner than the 2 week wait you have for the current appointment. Over the phone you could ask them to prepare the blood form then keep the appointment you have for in 2 weeks to hopefully discuss the results.

They won't. I feel like my head is going to explode with the constant noise.

Why not make an appointment now for the date when you expect the results to be back?

Ten days does seem slow for a blood result. My surgery has the blood collected twice a day and taken to the pathology lab. Urgent tests are done straight away but even blood counts for iron levels seem to come back well within the week. They don't need to be posted any longer as it is all computerised.

Is the quoted ten days a hangover from an old old system or is your local path lab a disaster? It seems a bit odd.

It was the receptionist who said the results would take 10 days. I am thinking more about going private as I just can't cope for much longer like this. DH has had to come home early and he can't keep doing that.

Have you tried phoning first thing of each morning? GP surgeries have to have a proportion of same day appointments available to meet targets

I was told I could do that but I thought they were more for people actually sick on the day. I have been like this for months.

Just phone on the day. If they are for emergencies only they will tell you.

If the GP does decide that thyroid function tests are needed then it probably wont take 10 days for the results to be back. Check with the GP when you see them, they will know how long it would be.

No at our surgery they have so many same day appointments just for general taking not just for emergencies. Emergencies go onto a different list of the duty Dr. You will have to check your individual surgery set up on this issue but got to be worth a try?

I hate how you an ask for an appointment sometimes and be given one and then other times you have to say what is wrong and wait for a nurse to ring you back and decide if you need a doctor or not.

The nurse phoning you back is usually if all the appointments are taken, so the nurse will be trying to figure out if they have to squeeze you in or if it can safely be left for another day.

If you start trying to phone to the GP as soon as the phone lines open in the morning then you will have a better chance of getting an appointment.

I will try tomorrow, thanks.

pinkbasket - if you just need a blood form initially, it might be worth asking to speak to the GP on the phone, and s/he might leave one for you at the desk so you could get it earlier.

I will ask in the morning if they won't give me an appointment. Thanks.

I have to see the Doctor to get a blood form but I managed to get an appointment for tomorrow afternoon so it is a bit earlier. I hope he agrees to do it as I am feeling worse by the day.