Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I thought I would tell you about my experience today as it may be helpful to some of you.

I noticed recently that a mole on my upper arm had changed so I contacted my surgery online. I was asked to complete a form describing my problem and add a picture if appropriate. I opted to be contacted by email but about 15 minutes later the doctor phoned me and said I needed to visit the surgery.

 I was asked some questions about my health and if I was living with someone who was self isolating. On arrival a nurse  asked the same questions and took my temperature. Only then was I allowed into the building. I wore a surgical mask and gloves and didn't sit in any of the chairs but the waiting room was empty.

I explained to the doctor that my mole had changed recently and I was concerned even though it didn't resemble any of the melanoma examples I'd seen on WebMed. The doctor was wearing a surgical gown, mask and gloves and was able to examine me though I was asked to keep my head turned from her.

I thought this may be reassuring to any of you who need to visit your GP. Clearly the correct systems are in place to keep us all safe.  Thankfully my mole was identified as benign but I was told that I had done the right thing in getting it checked.

Take care ladies and wishing you all well.

K.

[CLKD]

   worth while showing it to someone. 

[Hurdity]

Thanks Kathleen very reassuring. Which part of the country are you based? I think most surgeries now have separate parts of their premises for Covid vs non Covid. I was wondering whether to go as I have what might be a dodgy (small) patch of skin on my leg but thought I would wait a month or two and see if it changes. When I showed to my husband he said he has so many different sorts of patches and weird stuff and hard areas he thought it was nothing! However I don't normally get anything on my skin at all so keeping an eye on it! Good to know procedures are being well followed as my instinct was to keep away from docs if I can for the next couple of months!

Hurdity x

[Kathleen]

Hello Hurdity

I wondered about going to the surgery but the mole worried me and I didn't want to wait months before it was looked at.

I live in Cambridgeshire and although my surgery are well organised now a friend who had a blood test a few weeks ago had a different experience. Her temperature wasn't taken and she was asked mainly about recent travel. It seems that procedures are changing with circumstances as you would expect.

I think it's reasonable to just keep an eye on your skin patch. I think it's known as 'watchful waiting' in the trade lol.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Lyncola]

Last time I went to the doctors in Australia, if you have any flu or cold like symptoms, you must tell them. I rang and complained about a sore throat for two weeks. I told them I believe it was nothing to do with Coronavirus.

I had to drive to the doctors, and stay in my car, call the surgery when I got there. After calling and speaking with the receptionist, she told me my doctor will call me when she ready. (The doctor comes to your car) she called me within a minute. She asked me what was wrong, I explain my sore throat, she said she was happy for me to walk in and go straight to her room. The only things I noticed that was different was chair all space out, plastic screen between you and the receptionist, and my doctor had one chair in her room, on the other side. She wore no protective clothing.

We have been lucky her in Australia, just under 7000 infections, 5000 people have recovered, just over 70 people have died so far and we are down to about 12 new cases across Australia a day. All our doctors surgery's are open, most of our dentist are open  too for emergency. And our hospitals are starting to do elective surgery again too. Still on lockdown with lots of shops closed.

God bless England, it's my birth country, I truly hope things start improving over there too.

From Australia