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Care Opinion

Two tests- waste of time

Posted By A Meadow

"Two tests- waste of time"

About: NHS Lothian

(as the patient),

I phoned to book a blood test requested by my GP at West Calder Medical Practice. I asked to get my cholesterol levels checked at the same time, as my optician had recently recommended that I do so (as my eyes show a clouded iris, which may be a sign of high cholesterol. )

To cut a long story short, I was asked to phone the optician and get her to write a letter to the GP, and then I would need to phone back to get an appointment for the cholesterol test.

I feel like it's a ridiculous waste of my time and NHS resources simply to secure a cholesterol check that could be efficiently be done at the same time as my blood test - saving the NHS money and meaning that I don't have to take two lots of time off work.

I've felt unable to have a sensible conversation with anyone!

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Responses

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 6 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 26/04/2017 at 17:47
Published on Care Opinion at 20:44

Dear A Meadow

I am sorry to hear about your difficulties when you tried to get your blood test arranged to check your cholesterol, I can appreciate how frustrating this has been for you.

The majority of GP practices in Lothian are independent and l would encourage you to contact the practice directly as it may be with your feedback they may consider a different approach to patients who request cholesterol check.

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.

Kind regards

Jeannette

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Update posted by A Meadow (the patient)

Obviously my first action was to discuss this directly with the practice. It was their lack of response or concern that led me to post on Patient Opinion. Had I phoned up to book a cholesterol test, I could have done. However, they were incapable of booking a blood test requested by the GP with a cholesterol test requested by me in the same consultation. The mere mention that my request stemmed from an optician's recommendation sent them into bureaucratic overdrive. There was no patient-centredness whatsoever. I was told to phone back today to see if I had 'permission' to get a cholesterol test. I phoned at 2.55pm to find a recorded message saying the surgery was closed. The hoops I've already had to jump through and still no appointment booked. I am VERY frustrated.

Response from Jeannette Morrison, Head of Patient Experience, NHS Lothian 6 years ago
Jeannette Morrison
Head of Patient Experience,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 02/05/2017 at 12:02
Published on Care Opinion at 15:10

Dear A Meadow

I am sorry to hear that you had tried to contact the practice already. If you are still having difficulties, please contact me at the Patient Experience Team and I will try to help.

Email: feedback@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Telephone: 0131 536 3370

Kind regards

Jeannette

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