It's a while since we updated this, but that doesn't mean we've been doing nothing - far from it! Most days have been a hive of activity - but not necessarily relaxing!
Working backwards, yesterday Colin had an appointment at Worcester hospital with the psychologist - this has been months in the waiting. As this was just after lunch we decided not to try to park at the hospital but to use the Park & Ride from sixways. This is a revised service since First buses have stopped picking up and setting down there, and it's being run by LMS and the Worcester Council. What an improvement!!! The buses were on time and the bus drivers helpful and curteous. No more trekking around the Lyppards via Tesco or being asked if we really wanted to go to the hospital (even tho' it was the P&R service to the hospital!!). So we would really encourage others to use the service - yesterday people were late for their appointments as they were driving around and around the car parks looking for spaces that weren't there!
Colin has been waiting for his six-monthly check-up with the Ophthalmologist at Worcester Hospital since the middle of August! When we enquired a few weeks ago, the consultant's secretary informed us that there was a very long queue but Colin was on it! Yesterday, on the off chance, Jane decided to go into the Eye department and enquire again about the appointment. The kind lady on the desk looked up the details and told us the next available appointment would be the middle of December - that would be 4 months late!!! By some chance Colin was then offered an appointment yesterday at 4pm - apparently there had been a cancellation - and so we duly turned up, following the other appointment around the corner. As ever, things were running late and Colin eventually had his appointment near to 5 pm! He had a full eye examination with dilation and happily, no abnormalities could be seen. However the downside of this is that the consultant decided to discharge Colin from the clinic - and he now has to monitor his own sight - if there is any change he will need to contact the Dept and try to get into the clinic queue again! Why is there such a backlog of patients waiting to see Ophthalmologists in Worcester hospital?
By the way, for those who use Worcester Hospital and don't know, there is a WRVS (or whatever it has been renamed to) cafe around the corner from the eye department - just beyond the Charles Hastings Education Centre. It's much more relaxed and quiet than the 'cafe' in the main building and a lot cheaper. The bonus is that all profits go towards helping other people through the charity and not into the coffers of a global company!
On the 7th, Colin had another appointment with the audiology team working out of his doctor's surgery - which saves a trip to Worcester. This time is was another investigation as to whether he really wanted a second hearing aid in his left ear. This was finally agreed to and now he has to wait until the end of November for it to be fitted - what is it with waiting lists - there is a pattern emerging here!
Other highlights of the last few weeks are: Jane's birthday when we had lunch at the Bluebird Tearooms (Gluten Free), the Science and Faith weekend talk by Prof Bob White FRS at the Priory, a few trips to Croome Court for walks whilst the weather was still mild - including a visit to the RAF Defford museum which has just opened and is very interesting, a meeting of the Gloucestershire Brain Tumour Support group held at Maggie's in Cheltenham, the Hills Singers' concert at Castlemorton Church and a visit from two younger old colleagues of Colin's from work over lunch.
So, as you can see, it's been a bit 'full on' as the phrase goes! What's up next? Well, hopefully we shall hear from the Cobalt Unit soon about Colin's next MRI - he hasn't had one since May. And the next oncology appointment is the scan follow-up at the end of November.
Colin and Jane.
Working backwards, yesterday Colin had an appointment at Worcester hospital with the psychologist - this has been months in the waiting. As this was just after lunch we decided not to try to park at the hospital but to use the Park & Ride from sixways. This is a revised service since First buses have stopped picking up and setting down there, and it's being run by LMS and the Worcester Council. What an improvement!!! The buses were on time and the bus drivers helpful and curteous. No more trekking around the Lyppards via Tesco or being asked if we really wanted to go to the hospital (even tho' it was the P&R service to the hospital!!). So we would really encourage others to use the service - yesterday people were late for their appointments as they were driving around and around the car parks looking for spaces that weren't there!
Colin has been waiting for his six-monthly check-up with the Ophthalmologist at Worcester Hospital since the middle of August! When we enquired a few weeks ago, the consultant's secretary informed us that there was a very long queue but Colin was on it! Yesterday, on the off chance, Jane decided to go into the Eye department and enquire again about the appointment. The kind lady on the desk looked up the details and told us the next available appointment would be the middle of December - that would be 4 months late!!! By some chance Colin was then offered an appointment yesterday at 4pm - apparently there had been a cancellation - and so we duly turned up, following the other appointment around the corner. As ever, things were running late and Colin eventually had his appointment near to 5 pm! He had a full eye examination with dilation and happily, no abnormalities could be seen. However the downside of this is that the consultant decided to discharge Colin from the clinic - and he now has to monitor his own sight - if there is any change he will need to contact the Dept and try to get into the clinic queue again! Why is there such a backlog of patients waiting to see Ophthalmologists in Worcester hospital?
By the way, for those who use Worcester Hospital and don't know, there is a WRVS (or whatever it has been renamed to) cafe around the corner from the eye department - just beyond the Charles Hastings Education Centre. It's much more relaxed and quiet than the 'cafe' in the main building and a lot cheaper. The bonus is that all profits go towards helping other people through the charity and not into the coffers of a global company!
On the 7th, Colin had another appointment with the audiology team working out of his doctor's surgery - which saves a trip to Worcester. This time is was another investigation as to whether he really wanted a second hearing aid in his left ear. This was finally agreed to and now he has to wait until the end of November for it to be fitted - what is it with waiting lists - there is a pattern emerging here!
Other highlights of the last few weeks are: Jane's birthday when we had lunch at the Bluebird Tearooms (Gluten Free), the Science and Faith weekend talk by Prof Bob White FRS at the Priory, a few trips to Croome Court for walks whilst the weather was still mild - including a visit to the RAF Defford museum which has just opened and is very interesting, a meeting of the Gloucestershire Brain Tumour Support group held at Maggie's in Cheltenham, the Hills Singers' concert at Castlemorton Church and a visit from two younger old colleagues of Colin's from work over lunch.
So, as you can see, it's been a bit 'full on' as the phrase goes! What's up next? Well, hopefully we shall hear from the Cobalt Unit soon about Colin's next MRI - he hasn't had one since May. And the next oncology appointment is the scan follow-up at the end of November.
Colin and Jane.
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