Patience Charter

Patience Charter

I’ve been having a bit of trouble with a recurring elbow problem lately, medium term trouble with my neck and long term trouble with my left shoulder…

 

I thought I would give the hope of relief another try and made arrangements to see the doctor.

 

The system has changed lately.

 

Before, it was a case of pressing redial constantly at 8.00am before speaking to an overwrought receptionist to book a begrudged appointment.

 

Now you can phone at any time.

 

Receptionist: “Hello, medical centre.”

Me: “Hello, could I make an appointment to see a doctor please?”

Receptionist: “Could you tell me what you would like to see the doctor about?”

Me: “Erm. About my health.”

Receptionist: “Could you be a little more specific?”

Me: “My shoulder, my elbow and my neck. They all hurt.”

Receptionist: “Oh dear. OK then. What I’ll do is I’ll ask the doctor to phone you to discuss it with you. Do you want him to phone the mobile number that we have for you?”

Me: “Yes, ok. Thank you.”

Receptionist: “He’ll phone you between 8.00am and 11.00am tomorrow, is that ok?”

Me: “Er, yes, thank you.”

 

The doctor duly phones the following day.

 

Doctor: “Hello, I believe you’re having trouble with your neck, shoulder and elbow.”

Me: “Yes that’s right.”

Doctor: “And you asked for me to phone you.”

Me: “Well, I think I would prefer to actually see you.”

Doctor: “Yes, it’s probably best that you come into the surgery so that I can examine you. Can you come in tomorrow morning at 10.00am?”

Me: “Yes, that’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow then. Thank you.”

 

I saw the doctor. He asked me to move my arm around in different directions before saying that he thought I should have an X-ray taken of my shoulder and to phone back in two weeks to discuss it.

 

“What about my elbow and my neck?” I asked. “They’re probably linked to your shoulder.” He replied. I’m no medical expert, but even I knew that.

 

I had the X-ray taken and phoned the doctor’s surgery two weeks later as instructed.

 

Me: “Hello, I was told to phone back about my X-ray result.”

Receptionist: “When was the X-ray taken?”

Me: “Two weeks ago. The doctor told me to phone back after two weeks.”

Receptionist: “Ah, yes… here we are… tendonitis.”

Me: “Oh, right.”

Receptionist: “Yes, tendonitis. That’s all it says in the notes.”

Me: “Should I see the doctor then?”

Receptionist: “No. It doesn’t say that he wants to see you. It just says tendonitis.”

Me: “Well, could he phone me about it then?”

Receptionist: “Do you want the doctor to phone you?”

Me: “Yes please. I would like to discuss what happens next.”

Receptionist: “OK. I’ll ask the doctor to phone you. It will be between 8.00am and 11.00am tomorrow morning.”

Me: “Great, thank you.”

 

The doctor duly phones the following day.

 

Doctor: “Hello, I believe you phoned about the X-ray you had taken of your shoulder.”

Me: “Yes that’s right.”

Doctor: “And you asked for me to phone you.”

Me: “Yes. The receptionist told me that I had tendonitis.”

Doctor: “Yes that’s right. Calcific tendonitis. The X-ray showed large calcific deposits caused by chronic inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon. This is probably what is causing pain and mobility difficulties.”

Me: “Oh. Can anything be done about it?”

Doctor: “I can refer you to the orthopaedic team.”

Me: “You’re going to refer me to the orthopaedic team?”

Doctor: “Yes, if you want me to I can do that. They will write to you. Do you have a preference of hospital?”

Me: “Not really. Thank you. I’ll wait to hear from them.”

 

It really is an excellent new system; it’s important for patients to have a feeling of control.