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Fine at both ends
Mar. 29th, 2012 03:50 pmThis morning I went to the Foot Clinic for the normal 3-week foot checkup. While it took me around an hour and a half to be seen, the news was good: the wound from the operation in November has finally closed. So, I no longer need a dressing or pad on my left foot. I also no longer need to take antibiotics. I will have an emergency prescription for two weeks, just in case (I'll take that to the US with me) but I won't be taking them routinely.
The more worrying appointment was this afternoon. In January I went to Guys Hospital to have pictures taken of my retinas. As you may or may not be aware, my diabetes diagnosis was made in 1992 because I had diabetic retinopathy and laser surgery. Since then I've had to regularly attend the eye clinic at St. Thomas's to have an opthalmologist take a look. Last year, instead of having me make an appointment at St. Thomas's, they "discharged" me to Guys for retinal pictures. I duly went and had pictures taken. A couple of days later I got a letter saying that the person who examined the pictures had some concerns, so they had made an appointment at St. Thomas's.
Well, I went there at 2 pm, was dilated, and then a scan was taken, followed by an examination by a (very cute) ophthalmologist. He took a look and said that everything was fine. My question to him was: why was I discharged to Guys, and then what was of concern to the people over there that they referred me back to St. Thomas's. He didn't know, and fumbled around for a meaningful answer. I suspect that they try to save money by discharging people to Guys when their eyes are stable, but my examination record didn't follow me there. So the people at Guys were concerned about something that hadn't changed and that wasn't concerning. So, I'm back on a yearly exam schedule with St. Thomas's. No more pictures at Guys.
So, I had a celebratory mocha at Starbucks on my way home.
The more worrying appointment was this afternoon. In January I went to Guys Hospital to have pictures taken of my retinas. As you may or may not be aware, my diabetes diagnosis was made in 1992 because I had diabetic retinopathy and laser surgery. Since then I've had to regularly attend the eye clinic at St. Thomas's to have an opthalmologist take a look. Last year, instead of having me make an appointment at St. Thomas's, they "discharged" me to Guys for retinal pictures. I duly went and had pictures taken. A couple of days later I got a letter saying that the person who examined the pictures had some concerns, so they had made an appointment at St. Thomas's.
Well, I went there at 2 pm, was dilated, and then a scan was taken, followed by an examination by a (very cute) ophthalmologist. He took a look and said that everything was fine. My question to him was: why was I discharged to Guys, and then what was of concern to the people over there that they referred me back to St. Thomas's. He didn't know, and fumbled around for a meaningful answer. I suspect that they try to save money by discharging people to Guys when their eyes are stable, but my examination record didn't follow me there. So the people at Guys were concerned about something that hadn't changed and that wasn't concerning. So, I'm back on a yearly exam schedule with St. Thomas's. No more pictures at Guys.
So, I had a celebratory mocha at Starbucks on my way home.
