Arrghh! NHS red tape!

Disclaimer out of the way right now. I have nothing but the greatest of time and respect for the individuals in the NHS, they have, and continue to quite literally save my life. It's the bureaucracy that's completely bonkers.

Ok, just started a new batch of exciting chemicals on a rolling prescription held by the pharmacy next door to my GP. The last batch sent me a tad loopy so they're keeping a close eye on me. The nurse came round to visit on Friday (currently only working tuesday to thursday) and didn't like the look of the way some side effects were developing so phoned the consultant at the hospital. Consultant said "stop taking immediately, come see me first thing monday morning". Which is fine, as the rolling prescription was up on friday anyway, so didn't collect that. So I pop down this monday morning to the hospital to see the consultant. Who puts me on a slightly reduced dosage of the same drugs. Now, crucially, I could almost but not quite, make the required dosage with the drugs on the rolling prescription, having some left over. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But silly me, I made the mistake of asking the pharmacy what to do. "You'll need a new prescription" they say, pop next door and see the GP.

So, GP receptionist, ok, you'll need a new prescription, fill in the details on this form, that form, and the other form, oh and hand over your First Born as deposit etc. "When do you need them for?", "Well, today, I don't have any as the prescription has changed.". "Well you can't get it today, we can get it ready for you tomorrow." (these were exact words btw)

"OK, SO I'LL JUST NOT TAKE ANYTHING TODAY THEN, YOU KNOW, THESE DRUGS THAT ARE KEEPING ME ALIVE?* THAT'LL BE OK THEN WILL IT? I'M SO GLAD THEY'VE STARTED PUTTING FULLY QUALIFIED DOCTORS ON RECEPTION, MAKES THINGS SO MUCH EASIER. IF I DIE SHOULD I JUST MAKE A BLOODY APPOINTMENT TOO???" * ok, slight exaggeration, I'd probably last a week, maybe two

"Well there's no doctors in today, so it'll have to be tomorrow" (no word of a lie, no doctors in. No doctors in. No doctors in a GP surgery) "Or you could go back to the hospital.". Oooh, what to do, the doctors tell me I'll die if I don't take them, but the receptionist reckons I'll be fine without till tomorrow. Think I'll go back to the hospital.

Except the consultant has now gone to lunch/golf/see his mistress etc and won't be back in till tomorrow. And his notes haven't "hit the system" or whatever. So someone has to trawl through his notes, then go off and find a doctor (suprisingly difficult in a hospital as it turns out) to authorise a revised prescription. And when going through the notes, the doctor/nurse (not entirely sure who he was tbh) said "hmm, I think we'd better book you in for a CT scan." "I've just had one of those, a few weeks ago", I say. "Odd", he replies, "can't seem to find any record of it....."

Totally understand.

Makes you want to tear your hair out!!!

If you think using the NHS is bad, try working inside it.

Trying to change anything for the better is bloody impossible. Maintenance of the status quo seems to be what it's all about, no matter how crap it is.

[squirrel_hunter]

Ah yes the Red Tape I sympathize with you totally as I two had a similar encounter recently....

Before I begin I also wish to add a disclaimer "I have nothing but the greatest of time and respect for the individuals in the NHS, they have, and continue to quite literally save my life. It's the bureaucracy that's completely bonkers." (crtl-c, crtl-v).

I was quite ill a few months back and was close to death (well not quite, it was tonsillitis but never having it before it took alot out of me and after a couple of days I was starting to wonder what it was). My problem was I moved about a year ago to Sunny Swindon but never changed doctors, I just never thought about it. So feeling quite unwell thought it would be best if I don't ride my bike down the M4 back to my old doctors in Bristol, but to find a doctors in Swindon. So off I go to the same doctors a house mate is at.

Easy I thought just turn up see a doctor and be on the route to well again. Wrong. "I'm sorry sir but we are not registering patients from your postcode" I was told, it made no difference that a house mate was there, I'd have to go somewhere else. So I make a trip down to another doctors that they told me to see. Again "I'm sorry sir but we are not registering patients from your postcode", now I was getting a little frustrated. They said they didn't know why I was sent to them and to try another.

So I turn up at the next surgery. "I'd like to register and see a doctor please" I say. The receptionist said I would have to register, wait 2 days, book an appointment with Sister for a checkup, then I could see a doctor. At this point I didn't have any energy and left with 2 forms and a urine sample jar with the instructions to "fill these in". I get home and pass out for a bit. Once I come round I phone NHS Direct to find out if there was any way other then going to A&E to see a doctor today. No, I was told but I could see a nurse at a walk in center. So I go to the walk in center thinking it would be a waste of time, but at least I'll be in the system.

After a brief wait I saw the nurse, she diagnosed me and gave me a prescription of penicillin. I started feeling better by the second dose. The next day I decided that I would try and get registered so after filling in the forms and the sample jar I went back to the surgery. Gave the receptionist the forms but she wouldn't take my sample. Why, because I was "supposed to provide that when I saw the Sister", so why the f**k was I given the jar in the first place!?!

I'm now well and registered at a surgery. But what an effort. I still haven't seen a doctor. And the sample jar and its contents are still sitting on my desk.

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

The sample jar and its contents are still sitting on my desk.

Eewww!

[Biker Biggles]

You might as well drink it now.It wont improve with age.

As for the red tape thing,its just a symptom of the nanny knows best society.No one is permitted to use common sense to get things done lest those in charge lose their power grip on all of us.

Jeez, what an awfull situation to be in. I hate red tape, it screws everything up. And health and safety, thats screws stuff up too

If you don't mind my asking (tell me to clear off if you do), what condition do you have that you need drugs for?

Matt

The condition doesn't bother me so much as the symptoms which I'm deeply embarrassed about. Basically increased cranial pressure, of yet undetermined cause, but they seem to be fairly certain it's blood pressure related as drugs for that seem to be having an effect. The CT scan results (assuming they're found) will tell for sure, and will assess what damage has been done; if it ain't blood pressure related then it's more scary and I don't want to go there yet.

Symptoms are basically spells of temporary brain damage. If you remember the "spacky" kid at school everyone made fun out of. That's me that is