Over 70s isolation

[magpie patrick]

13 minutes ago, Athy said:

Of course I am. If fewer people tried to ring, the telephone would be answered with less delay. That is simple logic, surely?

Indeed, but I couldn't get through when there wasn't a pandemic

 

18 months ago I had a "minor" problem I wanted to see the doctor about - I gave up getting through and kept putting it off because the switchboard was always jammed. Then a GP rang me wanting to see me about my driving licence (I have to renew annually on health grounds) - I was near the surgery so I called by, even then the receptionist didn't want to let me through (in fairness it was 7 in the evening) but the GP was eventually contacted and said "send him up" - Whilst there I asked if my minor complaint needed seeing to...

 

A couple of weeks later I was in RUH having a tumour removed from my skull - it wasn't that the NHS couldn't treat me, it was that the overload on the GP appointment system wouldn't let me near to tell them I had a problem.

 

Now add a pandemic to that situation......

[David Schweizer]

15 hours ago, Rob-M said:

The implications from the interview with Matt Hancock on Sky News this morning was that new laws would be passed this week to legally enforce isolating.

Matt Hancock is develpoing a reputation for making statements before taking the consequences into account, or apparently seeking any informed advice. This morning, on the Classic FM News it was reported that he has had to modify his utterances to state that the "enforcement" will be self-Policing, and will not prevent over 70's from visiting relatives or walking their dog.

Edited March 16, 2020 by David Schweizer

[GUMPY]

28 minutes ago, dor said:

But will allow you to go out to a pharmacy or for food shopping.

No need

Food shop delivered yesterday

Next weeks food shop order already booked

Just done boots pharmacy order

Not been out the house

 

[1st ade]

57 minutes ago, Athy said:

Sounds like a cue for The Barron Knights [who do still exist] to make a comeback with 'Round Up The Wrinklies', after the fashion of 'Call Up The Groups'.

Saw them live in Milton Keynes (I think at an IWA rally of some sort - 1985 ish?)

 

The sort of humour that doesn't age...

[markeymark]

1 hour ago, howardang said:

It's starting to get serious across the pond, hence the following from another forum I follow: 

 

"Wow, just came out of Walmart and have never seen anything like this. There was NO toilet paper and I walked back up front to the service desk and asked if they had anymore anywhere else. The girl gave me a very rude 'NO' with a such a look of disgust that I would even ask. That was the longest walk back to the bathroom with my pants around my ankles .."

 

Howard

Back to the old days then, using copies of the paper instead..plenty in the recycling bins. personally I think a broadsheet goes further than a copy of the Scum, Smaill, Sexpress or StarK. Broadsheets actually have a semblance of news too which helps..the others rely on you to take viagra.

There again if you want a pair of tits stuck in yer crack then page 3 of the Scum would do nicely

Edited March 16, 2020 by markeymark
more info

[howardang]

2 hours ago, LadyG said:

Come to East Riding, same day appointments, only two cases.

See post 72 - I am in the sunny East Riding. - and no issues so far. I went to Castle Hill Hospital last week for a check up post surgery (which took place three years ago) and the sense of normality and calm was great to see. Apart from an increased use of hand gel, you wouldn't have known there was a pandemic taking place.  My wife and I are taking sensible hygiene precautions and getting on with life. I do wish more people would try to stop worrying - what will be will be and there's no point in over analysing things. I am, however, only glad that I am not cooped up on one of the monstrosities more commonly called cruise ships. Now there's an industry which I suspect will have to rethink what it's about when this pandemic is over.  

 

Howard

Edited March 16, 2020 by howardang

[mrsmelly]

1 hour ago, LadyG said:

Come to East Riding, same day appointments, only two cases.

We get same day appointments always at my doctors in Oxfordshire. I am traveling 150 miles each way for visits at the moment, going again next Monday. I ain't swopping ever!! 

29 minutes ago, howardang said:

See post 72 - I am in the sunny East Riding. - and no issues so far. I went to Castle Hill Hospital last week for a check up post surgery (which took place three years ago) and the sense of normality and calm was great to see. Apart from an increased use of hand gel, you wouldn't have know there was a pandemic taking place.  My wife and I are taking sensible hygiene precautions and getting on with life. I do wish more people would try to stop worrying - what will be will be and there's no point in over analysing things. I am, however, only glad that I am not cooped up on one of the monstrosities more commonly called cruise ships. Now there's an industry which I suspect will have to rethink what it's about when this pandemic is over.  

 

Howard

I completely agree. I am visiting mum in her care home in East Yorkshire as I type. No hype, no mindless panic. Just going with guidelines. 

Edited March 16, 2020 by mrsmelly

[David Schweizer]

1 hour ago, Loddon said:

No need

Food shop delivered yesterday

Next weeks food shop order already booked

Just done boots pharmacy order

Not been out the house

 

Well aren't you the smug lucky one? My wife spent hours over the weekend trying to get on line to Sainsburys to place our weekly groceries delivery order, without successs. She then tried Tescos and got on , only for the site to crash two minutes later. Tescos eventually came back about 11pm last night, but Sainsburys are still not on line.

 

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by David Schweizer

[GUMPY]

7 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

Well aren't you the smug lucky one? My wife spent hours over the weekend trying to get on line to Sainsburys to place our usual, every ten day, groceries delivery order without successs. Loosing the will to live she tried Tescos and got on , only for the site to crash five minutes later. Tescos eventually came back about 11pm last night, but Sainsburys are still not on line,

Not smug, but tired.

Waitrose was Up and down all day yesterday due to traffic volumes so I gave up.

I placed order at ungodly o'clock this morning when sensible people are in bed.

Could do with a nap now

 

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by Loddon

[tree monkey]

31 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

Well aren't you the smug lucky one? My wife spent hours over the weekend trying to get on line to Sainsburys to place our weekly groceries delivery order, without successs. She then tried Tescos and got on , only for the site to crash two minutes later. Tescos eventually came back about 11pm last night, but Sainsburys are still not on line.

 

 

I picked up BSPs normal delivery this Sat and the driver said delivery slots are filling up really quickly, passed this onto BSP and she just managed to book weekend slots for the next 2 weeks, beyond that it appears no bookings are being taken.

Morrisons at 8 this morning was full on Zombie apocalypse, assuming of course zombies need bog roll and tinned food, bloody madness 

[Slim]

2 hours ago, Athy said:

Of course I am. If fewer people tried to ring, the telephone would be answered with less delay. That is simple logic, surely?

In which case you are wrong. Pure and simple! 

I have NOT phoned my GP for any reason in the last few weeks thus my experiences have not been coloured by the present crisis. Whenever I phone my GP for an appointment it's a lottery as to whether the call is answered. When it is as like as not I'm told to phone the following day at 8am. When I do either it rings and rings or goes to the " you are in a queue" message where I may remain for anything up to an hour. When I do get an answer  the appointment is can be weeks ahead. On occasion I have been told that none were available so phone the following day. I should add that my GP(s) and their staff are excellent. 

[Mike Todd]

4 hours ago, alan_fincher said:

 

"You are number 27 in the queue"....

I received a letter on Saturday asking me to make an appointment for a routine blood test. I rang just after 9 (when they open) and was informed that I was 9th in the queue. Judged it not worth waiting so we sorted out our stock cupboard deficiency list and went shopping. Returned home around 11:30 and called again. Was answered without further queuing and given an appointment for Thursday. Perhaps we live in the right part of the country!

[David Mack]

Our local GP practice used to have an appointment system (2-3 weeks wait typically), or for urgent matters you could ring the surgery and later the same day the duty doctor would ring you back, and have a telephone consultation. If necessary the doctor could then usually arrange a consultation in person in the next 1-2 days.

Then last August they decided this was taking up too much of the doctor's time, abolished the ring back service and started an emergency only turn-up-and-wait clinic from 8-10.30 Monday to Friday mornings. I liked that. Turn up just before 8, queue outside for 10 minutes, wait inside for usually less than an hour and see the doctor or nurse. And if the doc said to come back in a week if the problem hadn't cleared up, then you did the same a week later. Job done.

A few months down the line they found 80% of the staff time was taken up by the 'emergency' clinic, and so now we have reverted to the old system again. I haven't needed the doc since, but not sure how well the sytem will work when I next do.

[Alan de Enfield]

Leak that the Government are going to back-peddle a bit on the over 70's isolation.

 

Proposal (apparently) now is that they should self isolate (ill or not) but can go out for 'a blow of fresh air' but should take all possible measures o avoid contact with anyone else.

 

Guess we'll hear the actual wording later.

[David Schweizer]

5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Leak that the Government are going to back-peddle a bit on the over 70's isolation.

 

Proposal (apparently) now is that they should self isolate (ill or not) but can go out for 'a blow of fresh air' but should take all possible measures o avoid contact with anyone else.

 

Guess we'll hear the actual wording later.

 

Didn't someone else suggest something very similar earlier this morning?

2 hours ago, David Schweizer said:

Matt Hancock is develpoing a reputation for making statements before taking the consequences into account, or apparently seeking any informed advice. This morning, on the Classic FM News it was reported that he has had to modify his utterances to state that the "enforcement" will be self-Policing, and will not prevent over 70's from visiting relatives or walking their dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by David Schweizer

[WotEver]

2 hours ago, 1st ade said:

Saw them live in Milton Keynes (I think at an IWA rally of some sort - 1985 ish?)

 

The sort of humour that doesn't age...

To the tune of Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina:

 

I tightened up the wires to fix the plug.

Put the green on the right, the black in the middle and the red on the left. 
But the green isn’t right on the right,

It should be left in the middle with the black on the left...

What is this green one?

I fixed it on for a joke. 
There was a great cloud of smoke...!

 

Don't cry for my vacuum cleaner. 
The truth is I couldn’t mend it. 
I tried to fix it

Now I can’t close it. 
Should suck the dirt up, 

But now it blows it...

[Detling]

3 hours ago, howardang said:

We have an online booking system set up by our local  NHS group of surgeries - System on Line - which lets you know which doctors or nurse practitioners have appointment slots, and allows you to book any ones that are free for a number of weeks into the future. It save sitting on the phone waiting for someone to answer. It also allows us to order prescriptions, again saving time. We have had it for a number of years and I for one am very pleased with the way it works.

 

Howard

We also have the same or similar system. For us it means logging on at 8:30 when it goes live to book an appointment 15 days ahead, because by 8:40 they have all gone. We actually find it easier to queue at the door at 8:25 so when they open we can get an appointment today. In 15 days time I am either cured, can't remember why I booked, or one day I will be dead.

[ditchcrawler]

30 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

I received a letter on Saturday asking me to make an appointment for a routine blood test. I rang just after 9 (when they open) and was informed that I was 9th in the queue. Judged it not worth waiting so we sorted out our stock cupboard deficiency list and went shopping. Returned home around 11:30 and called again. Was answered without further queuing and given an appointment for Thursday. Perhaps we live in the right part of the country!

When I ring the doctor at 8am when they open for appointments I am often in double figures for the waiting list but the speed they get through those calls is unbelievable and I bet I have never waited 5 minutes to speak to someone

[Arthur Marshall]

44 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Leak that the Government are going to back-peddle a bit on the over 70's isolation.

 

Proposal (apparently) now is that they should self isolate (ill or not) but can go out for 'a blow of fresh air' but should take all possible measures o avoid contact with anyone else.

 

Guess we'll hear the actual wording later.

That's all that was ever proposed.  All the rest was the usual internet exaggeration, panic and misinformation.  And they don't say "self-isolate".  They advise staying at home.  Self-isolating is shutting yourself away from everyone in a single room and not seeing anyone.  At all. Staying at home is what we do normally when we don't go out.  You have to remember that ninety per cent of what you read anywhere is drivel, like your bit last week about all schools closing last Friday.  You do seem a little naive in what you believe, which surprises me.  There again, maybe it's just fun to stir the peasants up a bit!

[ditchcrawler]

Went to the supermarkets today, to try and buy milk, (success) and flour as we make our own bread (failed) but what I did notice was that at least 25% of the customers were elderly and every disabled parking space was taken

 

[David Schweizer]

6 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Went to the supermarkets today, to try and buy milk, (success) and flour as we make our own bread (failed) but what I did notice was that at least 25% of the customers were elderly and every disabled parking space was taken

 

 

Have you tried your local farm Shop, ours had plenty of flour and yeast on Saturday.

 

Nothing surprising about the demography of supermarket shoppers on a Monday morning, it usually comprises a significant proportion of retired people, and our local supermarket rarely has any Disabled driver spaces vacant on any day.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2020 by David Schweizer

[ditchcrawler]

3 minutes ago, David Schweizer said:

 

Have you tried your local farm Shop, ours had plenty of flour and yeast on Saturday.

 

 

we dont have one

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Went to the supermarkets today, to try and buy milk, (success) and flour as we make our own bread (failed) but what I did notice was that at least 25% of the customers were elderly and every disabled parking space was taken

 

Try Aldi. Our local one is limiting ALL items to 4 max. per customer and had loads of flour of both varieties.

 

It was quite funny to watch one selfish woman have to remove 6 of the 10 UHT milks that she had rather greedily placed in her trolley despite notices around the store that 4 was max number of anything any one could buy.

 

(don't know if this is being applied nationwide though.)

[ditchcrawler]

6 minutes ago, The Happy Nomad said:

Try Aldi. Our local one is limiting ALL items to 4 max. per customer and had loads of flour of both varieties.

 

It was quite funny to watch one selfish woman have to remove 6 of the 10 UHT milks that she had rather greedily placed in her trolley despite notices around the store that 4 was max number of anything any one could buy.

 

(don't know if this is being applied nationwide though.)

We normally buy our long life milk by the box.

 

[mrsmelly]

One thing I have learnt by reading this thread is that people actually buy that bloody awful unusable long life milk!!