Fao Sqad

[maggiebee]

My friend was taken off her heart tablets after 22 years as the consultant felt they were slowing her heart down and causing her dizzy spells (ongoing for some time). Still having dizzy spells which she finds extremely distressing. Wanted to see an NHS counselor but was told the only way this could happen was by telephone and/or zoom. She is deaf so this is of no use to her. "Well that's the way we do it" was the only response. Are you aware of anything else she could do. I have suggested speaking to her GP in the interim but he is only doing telephone consultations. Back to square one!!

[Sqad]

I would guess that the tablets are beta blockers and I would guess that she is taking other heart tablets.

A lot of guessing -;)

I suggest that she does nothing other than take the advice of the Consultant which seems on the face of it.....Good advice.

[anneasquith]

Maggie, slightly off topic. I can’t believe her gp is still only taking telephone consults. Has she access to a different gp.?

[choux]

Quite so, anne. Face-to-face would probably mean the GP is wearing a face mask, hope that would be one with a visible mouth.
Her GP record would show that she is deaf, surely?

maggiebee, how did your friend cope with such appointments pre-Covid?

[maggiebee]

choux, my friend's husband always went with her but the NHS councellor won't allow a three way conversation. Will ask her about a different GP. Just want to help if I can but am at a bit of a loss.

[choux]

It is all rather ridiculous is not, maggiebee? There must be some circumstances which should allow for some relaxation of rules? I would go to my MP about it.

OH's 2 consultants are both happy to allow me in to all consultations and I am so grateful for that.

[maggiebee]

choux, it is ridiculous. Maybe a word with her MP is the way forward. Thanks for that.

[Sqad]

I would suggest that she telephones the Consultant's secretary and asks for another appt.

[choux]

Sqad makes a good point too but that would not help your friend when she next needs to see her GP. However, a dual approach wouldn't hurt, maggiebee.

[fraserstuart]

not surprised,my wife had to take pictures of her condition and send them in after 11 months she has still no result awaits hospital app

[Buenchico]

Perhaps good old snail mail might come into play here?

e.g.
"Dear Dr Xxxx,

I am writing to you, rather than speaking to you by phone, as I am deaf and I know of no other way to contact you at the present time.

I have been taking [medication] for the past 22 years but Dr Yyyy, at Zzzz Hospital, has now stopped this medication. This is because I have been experiencing intermittent dizziness, which Dr Yyyy attributes to a reduced heart rate, caused by long term use of [medication].

However, despite this change, I have continued to experience dizzy spells, which I have found very distressing. If at all possible, I would like to discuss my problem with you on a face-to-face basis, so that I can lip read***.

If that is not possible, I would appreciate contact with you electronically (using my email address at the top of this letter) or by letter. Alternatively, perhaps you could direct me to someone else to whom I could address my concerns and who has the means to communicate with a deaf patient?

Yours faithfully . . . "


***or "with my friend present, who can sign for me", as applicable here.

[maggiebee]

Thanks for all your advice/suggestions. Have passed these on to my friend. Never sure about giving advice as she is in England and I am in Scotland so we have slightly different systems. However, she can make her own choices. Thanks again.