I am re-defining the meaning of ‘urgent’. The dictionary definition is ‘requiring immediate action or attention’. The NHS definition is ‘sometime, any time, whenever we find the right paperwork.’
The GP referred me on a ‘2-week urgent’ referral. Naturally, I didn’t hear anything and had to follow it up. And then I still didn’t hear anything, so had to follow it up again, whereupon the secretary at the GP surgery offered me a hospital phone number to call.
I called the hospital yesterday and got a: ‘No, we don’t have anything…. oh, wait a minute, yes we do!’ response. This morning I took a phone call to advise that they had booked me in for an appointment on 3 July. Six weeks since I went to the docs. “OK,” I said, “although this was supposed to be a 2-week referral. Is 6 weeks OK?” Yes, yes, it’s OK – don’t worry. Right.
This afternoon, I took another phone call. “Can you come tomorrow morning?” Err….no. We’re at the hospital with John tomorrow. Ah…. OK, thanks anyway. Five minutes later, “How about Friday?” Yep, I can make that. So something is happening now, at last! Watch this space.
Meanwhile, it’s been a lovely, if tiring day. Yoga this morning, which I enjoyed but which was challenging, despite it being a class in which we make miniscule movements. Who’d have thought that could be tiring? But it was.
John was on the computer when I got home, so I went and had a long bath to ease my aching joints. Bliss. I took so long that it was a quick turn-around to be ready for our afternoon out with Nev and Jane, who had travelled up from London to see us.
They arrived, as promised, just after one o’clock, and we drove into Solihull for a meal at the Japanese restaurant, Kibou, where we had taken them before and enjoyed it.
We had a great afternoon – good food and good company. The conversation flowed easily and we had a laugh together, debated a bit of politics and fretted over the cricket score. A cracking game but pity about the result…….
Once we were home, we rested on the sofa until it was time for me to pop out to my Bible Study/Prayer Group meeting where I had an interesting time. Always lots to think about in these sessions and to try to understand, given that the time the Bible was written in is very different to today.
We are both weary now after our full and exciting day, so it’s an early night tonight – for me, anyway!
Take care everyone. God bless.