Another week in the world of NHSLand.

Work wise I have been ‘interviewing’ centres of excellence established by NHSEngland in response to the Cumberlege Report. ‘ First do no harm July 2020’. This was something I spoke about at the House of Commons last week. The work these hospitals have done to make massive changes for the benefit of women injured by the procedure known as mesh, is absolutely phenomenal. In the two years since Cumberlege there has been a bit of a bug going round. Covid actually. As if we didn’t know! But still these incredible surgeons and their teams have set up incredible clinics.

Meanwhile Mr Respiratory ( MR) had suggested I stop the drug rampapril as it maybe contributing to the asthma problems of late.

Mr Nephrology (MN) agreed. After MR had emailed him and after I had attempted to contact him via PALS> MN suggested another drug. Amlopidine.

MR suggested that was the same as a drug I was already on , Lacidipine. He wrote again to MN. He wrote again to GP. No answer. I too had no answer to my futile attempts to contact MN.

I then decided a plan might be to ask the GP. Receptionists, ie new triage service,( no medical training but who cares), deemed I did not need to see a GP. She kindly booked me to see the practice nurse. That happened today. I explained the whole situation. She listened took my blood pressure and decided I needed to be seen by a GP. Alas she too could not make me an appointment. So we are now back to square one.

Have you lost the plot with this pathetic tale? Actually I have.

Meanwhile to tell you quite apart from the above I went to see MR. He did all the usual checks. Then I explained I seemed to be allergic to another antibiotic which he had prescribed. I described the side effects. I suggested I try to see the Allergy clinic. I mentioned the name of the consultant. Dr Rotiroti.

He googled it. He laughed. No idea such a person existed in his own hospital.

Our conversation then ranged from roti as in Indian breads, to his horror at my mention of cold water swimming ( not recommended for asthmatics) to Indian / French restaurants in London, to a fabulous film he and I both had seen. ‘Lunchbox. ‘ …and so it went on. A great appointment fabulous chatter and maybe just maybe someone somewhere will read his clinic letters. As if.

Oh MRI? apparently Dipstick is reviewing it. No hope there then!