Musings on the NHS

I often wonder how things are organised in this countries' health system.  The usual opinion taken by most members of the public when they are worried about their own health is that the NHS is over worked, very inefficient and hopsital waiting lists and test results are dangerously slow.

I have mixed feelings about this.  When my own health is not A1, then I want to see somebody about it, and the sooner the better.  However, I also appreciate that I am not currently, and have not ever been more ill, and in more need that anybody else.  There has always been somebody in greater need than me.  Therefore, I have never really been impatient when waiting for an appointment, or when sitting in a queue in a waiting room, or awaiting test results.  I tend to think, "no news is good news"  If I have had tests done, and it takes a long time for results, that tends to be a relatively good sign in my experience.  The only times when I have had phone calls telling me to make an appointment to discuss a test result, are when something has been discovered, and that usually means that currently, there is something wrong.

Now, considering in my last post I talked about the fact I was to have a blood test, and I wasn't expecting anything very much to show up on it,  I was rather surprised today when I got home from work, I had two messages, from two separate offices aking me to phone them back!  One was the Doctors surgery, and the other was the NHS referral management service.

I phoned the NHS referral management service first, thinking that it was probably to arrange an appointment with a consultant.  I was right on this.  However, when I phoned them, they took my name and date of birth and then asked if there were any days I couldn't make.  I said No, as far as I knew, I could make any day I was offered.  They then proceeded to tell me there currently were no appontments and they would send a letter, when they had fitted me in.  This I found a little odd.  Why did they ask me to call if they didn't have any space at the moment?  Well, at least I know I am now in the system and when an appointment becomes available I will see a consultant.

Next I phoned my surgery.  They told me that my Doctor would like me to discuss the results of my blood test.  I was rather amazed at this.  I only had the blood taken 36 hours ago! For a start I was expecting to wait at least a week - which could mean that the bloods went through as an urgent request - I didn't think myself as an urgent case, so why did my doctor?? (Perhaps it was just luck and the bloods arrived on a relatively quiet day in the lab )  The final thing this has left me wondering, is why did the Doctor want to discuss the results with me?  I wasn't expecting them to show anything very much. Perhaps the things they were looking for would be a little raised, but not too bad.  In previous experience, the only time I have been asked to make an appointment following a blood test is because something has been found.  It could be that he wants to discuss the fact that the results are negative.  After all we have both concluded that the symptoms I am experiencing are a crohn's flare up, and if the bloods are negative then perhaps we should be looking elsewhere....

I have arranged to see him at the beginning of next week.  I am sure all will be revealed then.