NHS is truly in freefall.

I sent in a pee sample via GP last week in the vain hope they would be able to get it tested at the lab. As per the protocol they agreed to set up. No dipstick – proper lab please.

I also took in copy number 10 of a letter Jerome had written in October 2024. Requesting a particular med for me.

What a complete waste of time.

I tried to get the urine results today by:

Going onto their website e-consult from 7.30am as instructed.

It was shut.

I tried again at half hourly intervals.

I tried to call. The call messaging service said they were short staffed and would be shut for training at 14.3o. The messaging advised pressing #1 for a link for an appointment.

I pressed # 1. It went straight to econsult.

Shut.

\I rang again…an hour later some poor harassed receptionist said…yes I can see your result …great I said please send it over.

No I cannot do that she replied…I would not know what it all meant.

Please. I pleaded. I will know what to do.

A doctor will call you.

14.01 a missed called ‘unknown id’ weirdly I was on a Teams call. Rashly working instead of staring at my phone.

I immediately rang the surgery.

2.29 the receptionist answered..

Closed for training.

19.00

A GP rang…wow…

She sounded totally irriated. ‘ What did you bring a urine sample in for?’ Why ? When? What?

I was so tempted to say just because I bloody well felt like it…nothing better to do than take pee over to you…Meanwhile I’ve been on meetings, seen a lawyer re parents stuff, answered calls sorted done blah blah … I really have nothing better to do than take a pee to the GP obvs.

The call did not end well. I managed to add that I now also have a chest infection. That made not a jot of a difference.

Fortuitously I had acutallly sent a private sample into London thank you Jerome. – having had similar issues in the past. It’s worth the £50 it costs me. With any luck that result will tell me what I need to know.

I also tried to ask about the elmiron stuff as per 10 -letters -not- emails ‘ we don’t answer emails’ from Jerome. That too did not go well.

Meanwhile Baron and Jaw surgeon have not quite agreed a plan of action, at this rate I’ll be deleted from two wating lists ! Getting two surgeons two hospitals to communicate is absolutely impossible. Total shit show.

C was texting all day from her eye clinic…a similar tale of incompetence, illogical procedures…she had waited three hours blinking at the nonsensical tv screen only to be told the eye drops had worn off and she had to start again. The horrendous daytime tv blaring out added to her despair: Back to listening to Mr I’m a 45 year old presenter who’s getting overexcited about a toilet from 1940s.

Do you remember one flew over the cuckoos nest? Just saying.