Having recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and now on high doses of steroids, I feel completely on my own in managing all the serious considerations related to this. Feel there's little collective care between my specialist and GP and through my own research have been trying to keep tabs on the side effects I've experienced. Dont feel anyone is taking responsibility for regular screening for these serious side effects and know my old surgery would have been calling me in regularly for blood tests etc. As for blood tests!....feel incensed that I'm now unable to have blood taken for testing at my own surgery! My condition makes me incredibly tired and fatigued so the last thing I need is to have to drive to Braintree community hospital for them....particularly when I've had to fast overnight and need to be there at 7.00am so I can be home at a reasonable time to have steroids with breakfast. Just not acceptable. To add insult to injury. ...can't have urine samples tested there either. Thought this was a health centre. These are basic fundamental tests that shouldn't require ill patients to travel long distances. When I manage to get to see my GP, care is good but on one ocassion when I couldn't, it was suggested I could be given an appointment at a surgery in Maldon! Why when I'm ill would I feel up to travelling to Maldon, to see a GP who doesn't know me from Adam and is totally unfamiliar with me or my medical history. Really feel that although staff try their best and are polite and as helpful as they can be, the surgery's basic services and clinics are practically non existent and seem to be constantly being cut further.
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