Sometimes I think that they do it just to get attention...
I attended Hambleton Suite clinic on 19th May for my Annual Review... full bloods, virology, Covid vaccine antibody response, height, weight, full valet, replace the wiper blades... you know the drill. Preliminary indications implied that all was well, so I left with an appointment to ATTEND on 9th June, when the full set of test results would be reviewed and discussed. Said appointment was written on my card and in their appointment book, and later on someone added the appointment to "the system".
But a week later I was feeling rough, so I called it in and they asked me to attend for a quick check-up. Nothing bad was found in the bloods, they said that I'd probably got some sort of minor virus infection, nothing more. They took the opportunity to run through the Annual Review test results, meaning that there was no longer any need for me to attend on 9th June, so that appointment was cancelled and another made for 6th July.
So far, so good. But then someone managed to cock it up...
On 2nd June I got a surprise text reminder from 07786 209254 (one of their system's text-based reminder services) for a TELEPHONE appointment... for the same time and day as the cancelled ATTEND appointment. As you can see, it took all of five minutes for me to cancel the already-cancelled appointment and for that to be both confirmed and spiced-up with a threat of discharge:
From that, you'd think that everything was back on track, but you'd be wrong.
On 7th June I received another text reminder, this time from NHS UHL (another one of their system's text-based reminder services), for the very same appointment that I'd re-cancelled only five days before via the other text service. NHS UHL texts don't permit replies, so I can't put them right:
It's yet another example of their dis-integrated system.
It's not often that I give up, but I have (arguably) better things to do than try to fix the unfixable.
I didn't bother with the re-cancelled appointment, and much to my disappointment they didn't carry out their threat to discharge me.
Presumably a telephone appointment for 'blood and marrow transplantation' would have involved them talking you through a procedure using whatever kitchen tools you could lay your hands on.
I've been scouring t'interwebnet for an adapter which will join Hozelock accessories to NHS' PICC-Lines or Hickman-Lines. The few that I've found work only with dial-up, not gigabit broadband. The search continues...
How are you and yours, Glen?
@BG! - we are both fine, managed to avoid covid, though still nervous of confined spaces with other people in. Sorry to see your later news and positive test. Excitement here as we are organising Celia's 60th birthday holiday treat to North Iceland next year, Myvatn area where you may have passed through in the past.
We're glad that you and Celia have avoided this pestilence, Glen. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. OK, so I'd wish it on the jerk with the 500W sound-system in his over-dressed rubber-wasting hatchback who has infested the Close, but that situation's in hand.
Chris has recovered, testing negative over the weekend. I'm still positive. I think I'd be better now if they'd not broken their deal to give me one of their wonder-drugs, but even if they change their minds they'll be no use now as the five-day window closed five days ago.
Stay safe!
Oh, and Myvatn... the Midge Lake. An excellent choice, spent a few days there. If you don't mind pre-digital spoilers, hop over to https://beardedgit.com/?p=189 - pics 096 to 120 were taken around the Myvatn area.
@BG! - Thanks for the pictures. We are now booked, Myvatn/siglufjörður/akureyri plus a couple of unavoidable nights near the airport. Midge nets will be acquired.