It is surely logical that any person with a legitimate reason for calling would reveal their identity – As we are all inherently wary of the unknown, phone calls are certainly no exception.
Scammers, stalkers annoying calls we have learnt to block them all.
But GP and Hospitals ring too. At indeterminate times. ‘Number with held’ appears upon our screens. Shall we answer?
Whilst of course, like teachers, clinicians need not mix professional and private life, they need not give out personal numbers. As a teacher I could use my discretion who could ring me ( a few parents needing support), who could email me ( a few sixth formers needing help), never the vulnerable, never the youngsters, never those likely to disrespect.
Where am I going with this? My phone rang this week. A weird number. I answered cautiously. It turned out it was Nurse JJ. Last seen in April when she promised to ring within a fortnight to reset the sacral nerve stimulator ( SNS).
The conversation went something like this
JJ how’s the SNS ?

Me :I turned it off as it is so painful

JJ:have you tried turning it on again?

Me:No I was waiting for you to reset it

JJ How’s it been?

Me: erm. ….I turned it off as it is so painful…I’ve

been in your hospital actually. I did think you could have come then

JJ :Oh. Ah. I see that on my screen now.
Me:ok so what’s the plan.
JJ :‘Dipstick spoke to me last week. He needs to see you. How’s the SNS?

I turned it off as it is so painful

JJ: How’ve you been getting on?

Me: I spoke to Dip in April. Got a clinic letter ( it arrived this week ie September)
JJ :I am sorry. He’s busy.

I didn’t hear the mumbled rest.
Oh well I said. Next appointment 2023.

Later this week The hospital released an announcement by Twitter

To make it easier to get in touch with you, we’re changing our telephone system so you can see if you’ve missed a call from us. Rather than having a missed call from a withheld number, you will now see a number starting with 0203.

The replies were not answered by the CEO ….or anyone , apart from we patients …

Be handy if there was someone who’d pick up the phones 

Then Epic tells you you have an appointment then it’s cancelled. Next appointment 2023. Meanwhile my letters go to Cornwall. I live in Bedford. ! (Me!)

Nice idea, be great if anyone did ring 

be so sweet to chat 

Meanwhile I’ve not heard from Prof Goss. ( see last week)I’ll nudge next week.

As for our esteemed new Health Secretary. Dr of cigars Prosecco and Oxford commas. She’s told GPs they must see patients within two weeks. Or be named and shamed. Ffs. Two weeks of what ? Isn’t it a fact there are no gps. Wouldn’t it be an idea to get more. Am I missing something? By all means name them. Then we would know the areas most in need of assistance.