"Is this an April fool joke......?"

Given the date I hope I will be forgiven thinking this was a (poor) joke.

I arrived early for my 08.40 appointment and was called in nearly 10 minutes after 08.40 - if a patient arrives 10 minutes late they’re told to go away - how is that fair?

However, my main point is that having “starved” for 14 hours I was expecting to have a cholesterol blood test and also a full blood count test which I have had every year since my last stroke, but the nurse declined to carry out the tests - saying it wasn’t for patients to organise their own tests.

These tests - to be done annually - were suggested by the head of the stroke team at NGH and agreed by my regular doctor at the time. I have never been told to contact the doctor (which is nigh on impossible), prior to arranging the blood tests, either by receptionist or the nurses who have carried out the tests.

Perhaps informing patients of changes in your thinking would be a good idea?