Eric is the software used by some hospitals. It’s American so designed for a different user force than the NHS land in which it finds itself. . It spewed me out a letter this morning from Dr Nephrology. Lots of typos. Lots of mistakes. Bloody hopeless. So I wrote back. As no one will read my letter here’s what I said.

I am writing in a response to a letter which has appeared on Eric ‘my care’.

I have attached the letter.

It seems that Eric does not update medications.

I attach my list once again. Hope that’s of help.

It should be noted that I had to stop indapamide which your letter suggests I use. It was stopped because kidney function and potassium levels deteriorated badly in 2018 . I can send you your clinic letter if you need proof.

I am already on doxazosin 8mg (the maximum dose). Your letter suggests I use 2mg. But you increased it years ago to 8. Would you like your clinic letter for that too?

Perhaps a little background would help assuage the tension that appears to have arisen. 

After complicated urological issues I was given the opportunity to become a live donor of my right kidney. The kidney was no longer able to function well after ureteric injury. How careless.

That was a decision which I did not take lightly but certainly was delighted that I could help a fellow patient at the xx Hospital. The decision was made that much easier by the promise from the transplant team that I would be looked after by the team in future years. Blood pressure and remaining kidney function check ups would give reassurance in the years to follow. You did tell me all that at the time.

Fast forward to 2022 and we are of course still in the world of no face to face GP appointments. Having struggled with serious asthma since 2019 and worsening since November 2021 the thoroughness of Dr Respiratory helped to work out that perhaps Ramipril was not helping the respiratory issues. Respiratory and I tried to get advice from the Nephrology team and eventually Dr Kidney kindly rang me and suggested amlopidine.

I sent a message to Dr Respiratory who was able to see that as I was already on lacidipine and indicated that amlopidine was not perhaps suitable as these are both similar classes of drug. Not that I would know that myself . Idiot that I am.

I then tried to ask my GP practice. I was eventually offered an appointment with the blood pressure nurse. She observed that my blood pressure, home readings and in -clinic, were very high. She felt a doctor should see me but she was unable to arrange that. Doh!

Somehow or other I managed to gain a GP telephone appointment by ringing and waiting an hour or so at 8 am. and requesting a same day appointment. It wasn’t an emergency but apparently that’s how to speak to a dr. That GP suggested that I was too complicated and that hospital advice would be helpful . Hence trying once more to contact Nephrology team.

The suggestions I have now are Bendrofluenmethiazide. 2.5mg. Losartan 50mg.

Kidney function is: eGfr 54. May 2022. That seems a bit low. But your letter says I have near normal kidneys. Mmm. That’s alright then. I really thought only have one. Silly me.

I do not know what else I can possibly do . I have no named contact at your hospital . I have no means of contacting the team. I quite see that Eric does not show you the drugs I am on. MyCare does not allow me to add medications myself. Eric does not seem to let you see past history easily. I’ll try to keep my own records for you.

Other Consultants who look after me at xxx are Mr Urological and Ms Micro infectious diseases and Team Pain . They do the complex urological and uti issues hopefully these are on Eric somewhere but don’t worry I’ll do a spreadsheet if you like. I cannot see msu results on MYCare but I can see bloods. That’s kind of hopeless really.

In case Eric does not show you recent events: I was seen in clinic this week by m CNS at xx regarding issues with my sacral nerve stimulator. It’s giving me electric shocks. Not that anyone cares. She has suggested she will speak to Medtronic and Mr urological nightmare and try to make an appointment. I do not know when that might be. If ever. But no worries.

Meanwhile my recent MRI report is awaiting MDT review regarding the possibility that the remains of boari flap being conduit for infection. I have no idea when that MDT might happen. But goodness why should a patient either see an MRI report let alone know what happens at an MDT BDoes anyone actually ever speak to a patient? It might sound weird but actually patients do worry about such things. Just saying.

I appreciate everyone is very very busy. Patients on the other hand sit by their phones all day wondering if ‘ caller unknown’ will ring. Or sitting on the gp phone queue for hours. I also found out there is econsult on the GP website. But after you go thru that it says only available 7:00 am! Then if you manage to remember that it tells you to ring 111 or 999 and get immediate help. FFS.

. Covid situation notwithstanding I had no intention of making it worse I just needed advice and a letter which will persuade the GP to issue medication which is appropriate. So your stroppy misspelled letter was so exceptionally useless I actually haven’t the energy to go through this process again.