How's your day?

[Beekay 2,776]

Are you going to do a duet with the world famous PhilMayfield, Brew. I'll be your roadie.

[Brew 4,129]

I seriously doubt it after raising your idea with my dearly beloved. I suggested I need to practice - she suggested that if I want dinner I should put it back in the cupboard.

 

No soul some people... 

[philmayfield 4,253]

I've got the headphones so no-one can hear me!

[Beekay 2,776]

Do you have them on mute?

[LizzieM 8,655]

6 hours ago, MargieH said:

Apparently it was a Eurofighter Typhoon going to escort an ‘unresponsive aircraft’ into Stansted.  The aircraft was a chartered flight from Germany.  
whatever .... the jet was in a rush!

 

 

Was just reading on tinternet that the jets had flown from RAF Coningsby and were clocked at the equivalent of 1150 mph near you Margie!  Someone’s put a recording of the bang, taken from their Ring doorbell in London!  

[DJ360 5,448]

Flippin' 'eck!!!.. and there was me thinking I'd had an exciting day...

 

What I did do was to get extremely p'd off with the dismissive and borderline sarcastic reply I got from the 'Practice Manager' of my local GP surgery when I had the temerity to suggest that they might link to the very informative info on the St Helens.Gov website, which makes the info they have had since September 2020 look like what it is. Out of date drivel. (I didn't say that..) Having received my put down. I decided not to argue.  (Do GP Practice Managers have to pass an exam in 'Being Obtuse'?) 

In the end I decided to email St Helens Council to ask them to try to ensure that since all local GP surgeries are supposedly acting together re Covid Vaccines.. that they also carry THE SAME INFO as that on the Council Website.  It's hardly difficult. ..and one way to diminish anxiety and frustration in these times is to deliver a clear and consistent message.

 

However... moving on.. I also went for a walk.  As I was walking back uphill towards home.. I felt a bit more 'drive' in my legs than usual.. so I 'stepped out'. All fine until I got to a steep bit.. whereupon I felt the need to stop and lean with one arm on a convenient tree trunk.  At this point, a young lady in a delivery van pulled up and asked me if I was OK.  I re-assured her that I was fine and just 'having a minute'... But I thanked her for her concern and consideration... before we parted ways. It's nice to know people still care.

[Brew 4,129]

It's a well known fact that practice managers and receptionists must be graduates of the Attila the Hun charm school. Ours refuses to take the call further unless you tell them in detail why you want an appointment.

 

 

 

 

[mary1947 1,457]

Cant argue with you boy's but i worked at a large doctors surgery for about 3/4 years as a receptionist and of cause there are some nice receptioist out there. The reson they ask so many questions is that the doctor's want all info so they don't have to look/read what it says on their screen. Our's was a very big practice we had approx 15 doctors 30/40 addmin staff site manager staff manager and 4 social workers 4 speacial Nurse's 2 midwifes but not all at one surgery. Main Surgery Churchills plus 3 more small one's. We had one doctor who name i won't tell, but he was always rude to all the receptionist. One of our out post had just a receptionost nurse and doctor. It was this day when just myself and doctor were there. A paient went in to see doctor, came out and slamed door as he left, doctor came out of his room and pointed a finger at me telling me that he wanted to see me. Now I don't know about you but to have some-one point a finger at you is like red rag to a bull. I looked all around me and said to the doctor Oh! it's me you want is it?  YES OF CAUSE!!! so I followed him into his room. Don't you ever, and I mean ever, send me a paient in who only wants a sick note. Any way read doc the rules on confidentiality said sorry doc I will not ask paients what they are going in to see you for. Its none of my business. When back at main pratice the following week the alarm went on the reception phones that's 3 receptionist  well it was from this doc's room (not many liked him) well the receptionist we just sat and looked at each other non of us wanted to go. Then our manager came along did you not hear the alarm she asked, with that went to see said doc.   It seem a paient had, had a go at this doctor served him right but  goodness know's what he wanted us girls to do.

[DJ360 5,448]

10 hours ago, Brew said:

It's a well known fact that practice managers and receptionists must be graduates of the Attila the Hun charm school. Ours refuses to take the call further unless you tell them in detail why you want an appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brew.  I've since contacted my local council..who seem to be running the vaccination programme in St Helens, to ask whether they can persuade local GPs to publish a common and up to date meassage. I've also been criticised on Facebook for simply saying that I think GP webites should be updated as they have not been since Sept.  I just got a load of 'wait your turn' stuff from people too thick to grasp that the point I was making was not about me.. but about the poor communication of information.    I'm hoping that the response below, from me, may finally get through..

 

Quote

 

I'm getting fed up now because you continue to miss my point. It is NOT about me. I know I have to wait for my turn and am content to do so. That was not the point I was making, so I will explain one more time and hope that you and all the others trying to shout me down finally get it.

 

1. My GP Surgery Website has carried the same information from Sept. It links only to the National NHS Covid site, which in turn carries no local information. The Surgery info ends with a promise to keep patients updated. This has not happened.

 

2. I found out for myself, via my Local Council Website, that all GP surgeries in my area are collaborating to deliver the vaccine from a single central site. This was the first LOCAL news about the vaccine programme that I have found and, since the Local Council site also carries a lot of other useful info and FAQs about the vaccine, I contacted my GP Surgery to politely ask if they could update their website to explain about the 'collaborative' approach and include a link to the Local Council Website as it contains much useful information. I DID NOT TELEPHONE my GP Surgery. I instead used their messaging system which is specifically there for non urgent routine enquiries. They undertake to respond within 2 days..but it seems the Practice Manager was so busy that they were able to reply in hours, with a lengthy and borderline sarcastic diatribe. I was told that it was not necessary to link to the Council website, because I had found it and that was proof that everyone could. I was told that they are only allowed to put certain info on their website. Then... most curiously, I was told that they have a Facebook page..which..on investigation seems to be unofficial, little used and closed. I hope you can see that anyone who has been watching their GP Surgery Website and its promise of an update, only to see the same info there since September , is likely to be confused, frustrated and disappointed and also quite likely to telephone their Surgery to find out information which should already be on the Website. This of course assumes that everyone can access their Local GP Website, which many cannot..so that they too need a clear message.

 

3. Further confusion is being generated because there are invites being sent out to people via the National system, inviting them to make appointments at the few 'Mass Vaccination Centres' Many people are being invited to apply for appointments miles away.. but worried that they cannot attend for practical/distance reasons and are then calling their GP Surgery for advice. This is yet more unnecessary confusion. My Local council website explains how this 'parallel' system is working. My GP website does not.

 

4. In my local area, there is additional confusion because some GP surgeries used a central site to do their Flu Vaccines last Autumn, though mine didn't. Some are assuming that everyone got their Flu Vaccine from a central site, others are assuming that it was done at GP surgeries and this adds to the confusion over the Covid Vaccine. So. I hope you can see how the lack of info on GP Websites is adding to the confusion.

 

5. You are quite correct that the basic position for all should be 'wait to hear', but I'm sure you understand that in stressful times like these, people need a clear and consistent message from all players, I.E. Local and National NHS, GP's and Local Authorities, who are ALL involved in making the system work. That way, the frustration and anxiety can be minimised.

 

We shall see.

[DJ360 5,448]

And as if by magic...  5 new updates outlining exactly the info I suggested.. have appeared on my local GP website. 1 yesterday.. the rest today. 

[philmayfield 4,253]

They’ll either thank you next time you go in or they will have put a big cross on your card denoting troublemaker.

[DJ360 5,448]

I'll risk it...

[philmayfield 4,253]

I'm with you all the way DJ. I've been a troublemaker all my life. A day when I don't upset someone is a day wasted! 

[PeverilPeril 2,761]

Had a good day today. The usual start with rowing and then a bit more rowing this afternoon while watching Ronnie vs Ding - what a cracker! We ordered a meal to be delivered at 6.30 and we decided to 'dress for dinner'. Gotta keep the spirits up So, on with the evening suit and pleated shirt, rummage around for the cufflinks and can't find a bow tie. Search as I may, no bow tie. Finally found one hiding under the old cravats (Ben will love that I thought). Dinner was great accompanied with a bottle of decent Cote du Rhone Villages that had been breathing for 3 hours. All sounds a bit posh but my carpet slippers were the give away to the lady that delivered the food.

[DJ360 5,448]

I do believe I still have a couple of 60s vintage cravats lurking somewhere.  Used to much prefer them to ties.

[nonnaB 4,111]

Today I started to tidy up the freezer so out came everything. It's a huge freezer and it was beginning to  look empty and it was so iced up.So we spent the morning with hammer and chisel (not quite but almost)  defrosting it

Food put quickly back in and now I can find what I'm looking for. This afternoon did a mega mega shop from household products to food. 2 trolleys overflowing so now we are ready for the lockdown we are expecting next week

We now have to find plenty to do in the next couple of weeks

Oh well.we were expecting it.

[DJ360 5,448]

I did little today (Weds) apart from arguing online. Mostly with some woman who is incandescent with rage that I actually had the temerity to email my GP surgery to suggest that they add more info to their web site, both because people need it, because they promised to do so and because if they don't people will be telephoning because of the lack of info.  All I get from this woman is that I am personally responsible for the collapse of the NHS because I am 'constantly' seeking info I don't need.  In many circumstances I would have told her exactly where to go.. and in what manner.. but I decided to remain polite and inform her that since we clearly will never agree.. I will not respond further.  She's still bloody wittering...

 

So.. I need to get something done tomorrow.  Infection rates around here are terrifying at the moment, so even going for a walk is a bit scary.  Maybe weights... or worse. try to tidy the garage..

[mary1947 1,457]

P_______off  and just got out of bed 

[radfordred 5,338]

Not sure a ranting/moaning DJ will get you any nearer jumping the jab queue, I not suggesting it ever happens, but you wouldn't want things with your name on being pushed to one side for a little while/days/weeks/lost/missing would you 

[benjamin1945 13,658]

10 hours ago, DJ360 said:

I do believe I still have a couple of 60s vintage cravats lurking somewhere.  Used to much prefer them to ties.

Always wore a Tie Col...but nowadays its a cravat (health) but mostly a Neckerchief,,,to hide my speaking Valve....even now sat typing this at home wearing one,,,can be any piece of material looped round the neck...my favourite is a silky black one...

[philmayfield 4,253]

I remember wearing a cravat many years ago. It was one of those fashion trends like pork pie hats. I doubt if I could even tie a necktie now nor find a reason for wearing one.

[benjamin1945 13,658]

I am a Vane Romantic and don't mind admitting it....all the Cowboys ..John Wayne,,,Clint Eastwood..Gary Cooper...etc  wore Neckerchiefs....love to have been an all dancing and singing Cowboy.......now must round those ;Pesky'' cows up....lol

[oldphil 260]

2 hours ago, radfordred said:

Not sure a ranting/moaning DJ will get you any nearer jumping the jab queue

Remember Captain Mainwaring about the colonel "He's a troublemaker...get rid of him, Wilson"

[Alpha 60]

2 hours ago, benjamin1945 said:

Always wore a Tie Col...but nowadays its a cravat (health) but mostly a Neckerchief,,,to hide my speaking Valve....even now sat typing this at home wearing one,,,can be any piece of material looped round the neck...my favourite is a silky black one...

Its not a black thong by chance Ben? When you said black and silky well...

[benjamin1945 13,658]

Your'e very close Alpha...........lol