As advised by the letter received from NHS if my medically vulnerable husband tested positive for Covid 19 I contacted our GP. Who told me I had to contact the consultant who looked after my husband.
As it was now mid afternoon on a Friday I knew this was going to be difficult, I mentioned my concerns to our GP who said I they know it’s very frustrating isn’t it then ended the call. It was more than frustrating I was concerned for my husbands health.
I tried contacting the team that had done is cancer operation. But as I expected I could not contact them. The operator at Sandwell hospital tried tirelessly to contact different people for me, made suggestions and was very reassuring.
I then contacted the rheumatology dept at the QE and despite it being late on a Friday afternoon, I received a very prompt reply from the consultant who advised me to contact my GP or 111.
I must admit I have had some very frustrating contacts with 111 so was feeling very worried at this time. However as soon as I made contact the young lady was very reassuring and helpful and arranged for a clinician to call me back . I settled down for a long and frightening wait, then I recalled I hadn’t mentioned an immunosuppressant medication my husband takes.
I called back and by this time I was very upset and worried that I hadn’t given them all the information they might need. The young lady I spoke to was patient kind and reassuring. She sent me a link to speak to a pharmacist about the need to stop his medication, while I awaited the call from the clinician. After explaining the situation to the pharmacist she advised me to call my GP a fact which I had already told her I had done.
Back to waiting for a call back quite soon I received a call asking for permission for the Doctor to access my husbands notes. A few minutes later I received a call from a Doctor who had obviously investigated the situation and knew my husbands medical history and medication, this felt very reassuring and he proceeded to explain the options in an exceptionally kind, calm and professional manner. He made sure I had received the details of the medication and where I had to pick them up from. Before he ended the call he asked if there was anything else I wanted or needed to know.
After what had been quite a stressful situation I was left feeling reassured and more importantly my husband was going to get the medication he needed.
I know the more upset I got I was not making much sense when I spoke to the call handlers and the clinician s on the 111 service but they all took their time to listen and help. I just want to send them a heartfelt thank you
Staff attitude