Share review of Patford House Surgery Partnership

Patford House Surgery Partnership 2020-04-04 Person 5 5 0

I have recieved a text message asking me to report on my experience using this service. REPORT MY EXPERIENCE USING DOCTORLINK VIRTUAL HEALTH ASSISTANT. Unfortunately I do not remember the names of either the triage nurse nor the female doctor who dealt with my telephone contacts on Tuesday 31st March 2020. My first use of the DoctorLink assistant was an experiment to enable me to learn how to use the system. With fewer GP’s available to serve ever increasing size of communities now and in the future such systems as DoctorLink are going to be absolutely necessary in order to help GP practices achieve more with less each working day. So we all need to familiarise ourselves with the use of such systems. Before commencing my investigation of DoctorLink system my expectation of satisfaction with the result was very low. However I found the system straightforward and easy to use. That is the most important plus. Unfortunately I experience three different symptoms which are documented side effects caused by Bisoprolol Fumarate Tablets. Some very common others less so. Tingling of fingers progressing to total numbness of the hands most often but not exclusively when arms are raised into the horizontal plain when driving or reading a newspaper. Ache of top of shins [NOT CRAMP WHICH I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH] This occurs when legs have been at rest in horizontal plain on a footstool. Both the above symptoms are most often associated with my right side. Constantly running nose. Itching of forehead nose round the eyes and face. I have experienced these symptoms for years since first being prescribed Bisoprolol Fumarate Tablets as part of my medication following fitting of a couple of stents. However it seems to me that the symptoms are occurring more often and more pronounced during the past few months. I assume that none of these symptoms indicate a life threatening conditions so I recognise as I always have that I have to put up with these reactions. My family and I have always taken responsibility for maintaining our own health and wellbeing and only referring to a doctor when being seriously unwell. However it was the current situation with COVI-19 which accentuated my concern exponentially regarding the itching of my face because of the emphasis ON NOT TOUCHING ONES FACE which it was impossible for me to achieve. We have already been nearly three weeks into self isolation. DoctorLink clearly an important advanatage. The DoctorLink system only enabled me to enter my one symptom of “itching face”. I had imagined that the system would progress me through to a recommended treatment. My hope had been that DoctorLink would recommend the managed change of medication from Bisoprolol Fumarate to one of two available alternatives if either of those were not associated with the same effects which I experience. When it did not do so but asked me to arrange an appointment I decided that the matter was too trivial for medical staff to get involved with so exited DoctorLink without making any appointment. I was astonished to receive a message asking me to contact Patford House Surgery regarding my use of DoctorLink. I telephoned Patford House Surgery as requested and was connected to a triage nurse who spent some time asking me a number of questions which identified all the symptoms which I experience. Her professionalism impressed me greatly. That nurse advised me that she would report all to a doctor who would telephone me later that day. The doctor did telephone as arranged and spent some time investigate my symptoms with me, I did not mention to the doctor that I wished to consider using an alternative beta blocker to Bisoprolol Fumarate in the hope that it would eliminate the side effects which I believe are associated with my present medication. The doctor emphasised that I could not stop using Bisoprolol Fumarate because it was that medication which was keeping me well. It seemed to me that the doctor had spent a great deal of time dealing with me and suggested using Earwax cream to treat the itching symptoms which concerned me most. I had never investigate such use myself clearly not as up together as I once thought myself to be. I acquired some Eurax cream and have been applying it each evening and occaisionaly during the day so that problem has been eliminated. Particular thanks to the doctor and also the DoctorLink system as I would not have considered taking up a doctor’s time with such a matter until the COVID-19 situation is behind us.