Using NHS111

 I had arranged for a lorry load of logs for the wood burner to come on Saturday morning last week. They were here by 8 am and dropped it all off near the gate.

Unfortunately the previous day I had been bitten by a mosquito  (blue circle) and by 8.30 on Saturday it was swelling from my wrist to my elbow despite antihistamine creams and pills. 

By lunch time it was bright red, tight, throbbing and a lovely red line was going up beyond my elbow to my arm pit! 

This usually happens at least once a year for me but this time I had no anti biotics to hand. I keep whatever gets left over as long as they are reasonable in date. Not wanting to go to A&E and the GP being closed I tried the NHS 111. By this time bending the arm was impossible so holding the phone to my ear with the working arm, pulling it down to look at the keys and  push the next required number in response to the automated choices was a bit fraught. Took two goes to get through the menu, avoid the Covid stuff, and speak to the first person. After that assessment was fairly straightforward and seemed I would get a prescription for the usual anti bio stuff quite easily.  After half an hour a local doctor rang back for final chat and authorisation. Sounded a bit keen to actually see the damage but I was firm "Just give me the pills!!" (I was getting a bit desperate by then) and had to promise to seek further assistance if it did not go down in 3 days.

It took 2 days at full dose to stop the swelling, itching a bit longer and I could then put my wedding ring back on! 

Still feel guilty. Using precious NHS resources when they have better things to do and because my husband had to move all the firewood by himself. I stayed on the settee or retired to my craft cabin to paint. Still I got a reasonable picture out of it.

And stomach ache for a week. After effects of such a heavy dose were not good.

First two tops for Scrubs NHS

Finally got the first two scrub tops done for Norfolk Scrub Volunteers. They supplied the fabric which was a nice stable poplin linen and pattern. 

I suspect I was being slow as I wanted to be very accurate and clean and tidy!  The trousers have side insert pockets that I have not done since 1971 when I made a maxi (long length) coat for my A level Needlework project.

First rain for a month here so I am using the wet days to do this and trying not to think about the weeds popping up in the garden meanwhile!

Respect and love for NHS?

Boxing day afternoon in a London Urgent Care Unit (joy, all round) I observed who the "people" who are purported to love the NHS treat the waiting area. If they love and respect it how come there were cheesy whotsits under one seat and half drunk plastic cups of water under several others?  At least the man dripping blood from a hand wound offered to mop it up!! If I had not wanted to vomit on moving myself, I was about ready to go round and pick some of the cups up.  If I could have gloves. Where is the respect for "your NHS" we have heard about daily for the last two months, I asked my youngest son  accompanying me? Save a fortune on cleaning if people just respected this space. Long political debate ensures.

Loved the young doctor.
Your blood pressure is a bit high.
What do you expect I retorted? Two hours of screaming kids, sweaty women dripping everywhere, blood on the floor, man behinds face slowly exploding in swelling bruises as his broken nose takes shape, and inexplicable fast tracking the queue. 
Most people get quite mellow having to sit for 2 hours and do nothing, he replied.
Those are the ones on their phones/gadgets turning themselves into the zombie brain dead with incessant beeping. 
Could you hear it? Because I think you have Meniere's disease of the inner right ear.
You need mild anti psychotic pills to turn off the noises in your other ear and stop the dizzy episodes.

Great, says my youngest son, - mad lady pills!!! How appropriate. Must get that on What's App Family Group.

Is it time for turkey curry yet?

Good NHS!

NHS queues?   Not in our surgery!

The modern purpose built health centre is about 500 yards from our house.  The repeat prescriptions and appointments can be booked on line. Medicines collected from in house pharmacy. Only down side we have found, is if its urgent attention you need you have to sit on phone at 9 am and keep trying to get through for that day.

Does it work?  I'd booked appointments for us both on line last week.  Monday at 9.00 I left the house on my bike. I logged in on the auto system screen as the only person in the waiting room, and was seen promptly for annual medicine review. Husband left house at 9.05 and walked down the lane. I met him in reception where he was one of 3 people in there, discussed leaving him my bike while I walked back as he looked a bit "sweaty".  He was called in early as I had been so quick and he was "registered" us being present. 

I walked home and was sitting taking off my shoes at 9.25 when he appeared with a prescription in his hand.  All done and dusted.

So there we were at 9.30 having completed our major task of the day wondering what to do next. Also wondering if our NHS experience was unusual as every news broadcast is so full of doom and gloom about appointments!