GP Surgeries

[spendorman]

In about 65 years I have not that frequently used the service. Recently, I needed a blood test, in the past this has been done at the local surgery, they have two practice nurses there. This time though, I was told that because I can walk, I would have to go to hospital for this. This is nowhere near as convenient for me. Do other surgeries insist on this?

Also, today I phoned the surgery for a copy of the result of the blood test, was told that I need to pay for this, never had to before, it's only 50p.

What next?

[Wakefield Turntables]

At least you've had decades of free health care.

[spendorman]

At least you've had decades of free health care.

Well, as mentioned, I hardly used it, and free, only at the point of service. I have made over 42 years National Insurance contributions, paid plenty of other taxes too.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Well, as mentioned, I hardly used it, and free, only at the point of service. I have made over 42 years National Insurance contributions, paid plenty of other taxes too.

Yep you've paid you contributions but unfortunately the NHS has linear expenditure whilst everyone's contributions have been at a non linear fixed rate causing a massive gap in NHS funding levels. Consider yourself lucky and your not in the USA where every dressing is itemised and billed, I could tell you some very scary stories.......��

[Macca]

Well, as mentioned, I hardly used it, and free, only at the point of service. I have made over 42 years National Insurance contributions, paid plenty of other taxes too.

Exactly, it's only truly free for the deadbeats.

Free at the point of delivery and free as in 'costs nothing' are not the same thing.

[spendorman]

Yep you've paid you contributions but unfortunately the NHS has linear expenditure whilst everyone's contributions have been at a non linear fixed rate causing a massive gap in NHS funding levels. Consider yourself lucky and your not in the USA where every dressing is itemised and billed, I could tell you some very scary stories.......��

Yes, I suppose that I'm lucky in that respect, although in the states as an employed Professional Engineer, I bet I would have been more than compensated in having a much better salary.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Yes, I suppose that I'm lucky in that respect, although in the states as an employed Professional Engineer, I bet I would have been more than compensated in having a much better salary.

Your probably correct Alex, I'm not really qualified or knowledgable enough to offer an honest opinion.

[struth]

Up here we have a health centre with 3 gp practices and a community section split between the 3. My practice has a phlebotomist employed to do most tests in practice. Results like prescriptions are free to all. This is as it should be. If a govt cant provide basic Services to all then we are in serious trouble as a nation

[spendorman]

Your probably correct Alex, I'm not really qualified or knowledgable enough to offer an honest opinion.

Yes, but I made my choice to stay here, don't regret it.

[Spectral Morn]

Up here we have a health centre with 3 gp practices and a community section split between the 3. My practice has a phlebotomist employed to do most tests in practice. Results like prescriptions are free to all. This is as it should be. If a govt cant provide basic Services to all then we are in serious trouble as a nation

In trouble and sinking deeper and deeper.

[Tom-Brown]

My doctors use our small minor injuries hospital for blood tests....their reasoning is that by doing so they are helping to keep it open.....which for me is a fair reason :) :)

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[Puffin]

Having Googled this it seems that if you want a copy of your blood test results they want 50p for the photocopy. When I ring for the results of any blood test I am always told that they were "normal" as they have normally tested for more than one abnormality I say "there is no such thing as "normal" and ask for an appointment with a doctor. It is nonsense. As for the copy charge, I normally take a piece of paper and ask the Dr to tell me exactly what it says and all the technical stuff and sit and write it down.

[Wakefield Turntables]

My doctors use our small minor injuries hospital for blood tests....their reasoning is that by doing so they are helping to keep it open.....which for me is a fair reason :) :)

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no it means they have to pay for it which makes them more profitable.

[Firebottle]

Yes, I suppose that I'm lucky in that respect, although in the states as an employed Professional Engineer, I bet I would have been more than compensated in having a much better salary.

Yes and had a lot more respect for your engineering background.

When officials over here in France find out I am a retired engineer you can see the look of respect on their faces. Respect for real engineering in the UK is pitiful, the assumption is you are a grease monkey (with apologies to any grease monkeys on here).

As usually follows the salaries for UK engineers are abysmal as well. When I told my son what my final salary was he didn't believe me, thought it ridiculously low, presumably in comparison to his mothers salary. She has been in the teaching profession for all of her career.

:(

[struth]

Electronic engineers have never been paid well in Britain..

[Barry]

Yep - tell me about it. Especially if you work in research: " the interesting nature of research compensates for the poor pay", gets trotted out everytime.

[Barry]

Being diabetic I have a blood test twice a year. Used to have to go to a phlebotomy centre, but now I can have that service done at my local surgery. A week or so later, I make an appointment to see the nurse who looks after me to discuss the results and I am given all the figures: thyroxin, cholesterol, sugars etc., which I jot down in my diary, so I can compare figures and get an idea of how I am progressing.

[Oddball]

My doctors use our small minor injuries hospital for blood tests....their reasoning is that by doing so they are helping to keep it open.....which for me is a fair reason :) :)

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Ours does the same - you go in and take a ticket from the ticket machine and wait for your number to come up on the wall !!

[hifi_dave]

I have regular blood tests for kidney function and Uric acid levels. The local GP surgery takes the sample, which is sent to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and I get the results the next day. Can't complain about that.

[Barry]

I have regular blood tests for kidney function and Uric acid levels. The local GP surgery takes the sample, which is sent to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and I get the results the next day. Can't complain about that.

How is your Achilles tendon Dave?

[hifi_dave]

Coming along nicely, thank you. I had a lot of muscle wastage because of the 10 weeks inactivity but slowly building it up. The Physio says it could be 5 years to get back to where it was..:eek: Fortunately, I can do most things as I used to.

[walpurgis]

Glad to hear the tendon is getting better Dave. I was more or less back to sort of normal after a year. I stopped getting twinges after two years. No bother since.

[hifi_dave]

Thank you.

I didn't really have any pain, except for the first couple of days after I did it. The problem is getting back to normal, which at my age is not easy. I have had Physio, which helped and now do an assault course (for oldies) at the local hospital every week. I'm fully mobile but a bit unsteady, though anything is better than being chair bound.