I remember once working out, a long time ago, that I'd not seen a doctor for about ten years.
Now I seem to spend half my life fixing appointments then rearranging them when I'm needed in London.
My mother said the other day that "when people were your age they used to think they were old and wore old people's clothes, now you're not old until you're like me".
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This is astonishingly true - but it's also true that the older we get, the more we need the NHS.
Recently I found I had no fewer than three separate sets of out-patient appointments to sort out at Burnley General.
Well, I thought, some of us are keeping the place going even if half the hospital has moved to Blackburn!
And I have nothing but praise for the care and advice I have received at Burnley from staff who have been both professional and helpful.
But the admin systems seem to have got into rather a muddle.
First I went for a minor operation, all very impressive and effective, and had to return a few weeks later to have it checked.
It was fortunate that I'd kept a check on what they had done, and was able to explain it to the doctor on the second visit - since someone had lost my case notes!
Next I went for a consultation about a different minor problem and this time they had two separate files on me.
On one (all other details correct) it claimed I was 54. I was enthusiastic, but sadly it turned out they had no means of bringing about such a miraculous change!
For the third appointment I had to phone the week before to cancel. After several attempts to get through I left a clear message on the voicemail.
Despite this they sent me a curt letter complaining that I had missed the appointment. When I mildly protested I learned that there weren't enough staff to pick up the voicemails.
These are all minor niggles for those of us who can still look after ourselves. But that won't last forever, for any of us.
Which reminds me - I must remember to go in this week and order my free bus pass!
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