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Hi, Rusty!
I do so agree with you that continuity in medical care is important.
We went to a meeting about our local GP surgery at the Town Hall, a while back....
Our GP is retiring and this was a government schemed meeting about the possible replacement of the practice, what will happen to present staff etc.
Existing patients were asked for any comments /criticism......
I remarked that I felt my dog and cat received better treatment from the vet, in that both saw whomever we chose ......and largely when we chose.
Bloods are taken from the animals on site, and some basic tests done in situ too.
Getting an appointment at our particular GP practice is dicey at best......and one rarely sees the doctor of one's choice!
For blood tests, one treks miles to the nearest hospital merely to have the blood samples taken.
It is archaic.
There were murmurs of agreement, so who knows.......some one, somewhere, may take notice!
(I may come back as a cat in my next life!)
Yes, I shall watch some of the European Championships.
I have marked off sections throughout my TV guide, especially when the Athletics are showing.....
We have a lot to watch!

If a crown falls off and is not dealt with pretty soon, the area of tooth left can easily be damaged (just by eating) and then the crown no longer fits properly.
Just sayin'

Hello, Elle,
I think I am lucky with "my" GP practice.
I always get my chosen GP.
I prefer that and so does he.
And there are several nurses and healthcare assistants for taking bloods etc.
I can't compare it with any other practice because I have not been to any, but I believe "my" practice to be very good indeed.
Just seen a Tweet from Trotty.
She was cycling through Glasgow this morning, heading to an apartment that she, Jason, and baby Albie are staying in, when a woman stopped her and asked her if she could direct her to a certain street.
Of course Trotty had no idea where the street was and told the woman that.
The woman thanked Trotty and said, "You look very fit, fit enough to be in the Olympics!"
Trotty thanked her and rode off!

Hello, Rosalind,
Thank you for the info.
Ten days until my appointment, so fingers crossed all will be well!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, your "own" GP practice has always sounded excellent.
I think you are very fortunate.
I think at the very least that blood samples should be taken on our surgery site, and there be a messenger collection to take the samples to the nearest laboratory.
It is asking too much for sick, possibly elderly /possibly mums with young children / to have to travel a long way merely to have the samples taken.
And said "taking" of bloods then results in maybe several hours at the hospital awaiting one's turn!
(There are virtually no parking facilities at the hospital either)
This may not be the norm for all surgeries.......but it is what occurs at ours.
I am all for improvements in the system!
I loved the story about Trotty!
It is very , very hot here now!



Hello, Ros!
It is good to see you back!
We have a resurgence of the extreme heat here - after a blissful cooler few days......and even some rain!
What is like up your way?

Hello Elle, Rusty, Ros....

How are you all? I kind disappeared for a while as there was a
small invasion of British friends both in my home and in their
own house for those who have a house here.
It was lovely seeing them all again, and since we all know each
other very well, there were many evening gatherings, once the
extreme heat had relented somewhat.

All this coincided with our annual Brocante, but I must confess that
I did not follow them all down town - although the heat had dicreased a little after a thunderstorm, it was still very hot with 34C and in the centre of the village, there is no air - and hundreds of people strolling everywhere around this huge 'market in the street'.
(I have seen it every year as far back as I can remember, and it does
not vary very much!)

We are in orange alert for heatwave here and in the majority of
France, temperature in garden is 38C IN THE SHADE as I am
writing this. So I live with shutters and windows closed most of the
day and do a massive draft overnight, opening everything!

I bet you are having similar problems? Possibly apart from you
Rusty as I believe you may still have relatively cool air?

PS
We have a small laboratory in the village which only takes blood
in morning before 11 when it is taken to the hospital to be analyzed.
Also, you can ask to have one of the nurses call on you between
8 and 10am to take your blood in your own home - very nice for sick
and/or elderly people who might not drive.

They come to me mostly because I don't fancy walking a small (there and back) on an empty stomach - we are not supposed to eat before a blood test - is it the same with you?

Hello, Elle!
Your GP practice is way out of date surely, and why can't the GP's take blood samples themselves?
I would be looking to move to a more modern practice, I think.
I think Trotty has 4 Olympic golds, too!
I think the semi-final is at 17.46, so I am ready to cheer the team on.

Hello, Pigale!
Nice to hear from you!
I remembered you were getting visitors and thought that was why you were not posting!
Too busy enjoying yourself!
I am glad I don't have the heat that you are experiencing!
It is just fine here, with a cool breeze from the sea.
At "my" GP practice, most blood samples are taken without fasting, but for some you have to be without food for eight hours or a bit more.
The nurses keep me right as to what to do!

Hello Rusty!

You have a good memory for remembering about my visitors!
I did enjoy myself true enough!

I wonder how people who cannot attend a surgery at all, for
whatever reason, manage to have their blood taken - isn't there
a service offered for a nurse to come to one's home if necessary?

It is almost a mile down and back up a hill for me to walk to the
laboratory, usually with nothing inside me, and if it rains heavily or in
this extreme heat for example, I am very grateful that a nurse can
come home to me! (I do not drive).

I am glad you and your family do not have to suffer the extreme
weather conditions we have here. Even instructions issued by our
local Mairie to be extra careful if using a barbecue, and preferably
avoiding to do so if there is wind! The garden is as yellow as straw!