Thank you for taking the time to listen to my concerns. I feel that we have made great progress in working out how to help Dad. I know that you don't feel that the recent dementia campaign is widely beneficial, and I appreciate that you may be seeing more of the worried well as a consequence of the campaign. But for the families of people who may be affected by dementia, having a public campaign like this will make it easier for us to have the difficult conversation and to make plans for Dad's future care.
You see, Dear Doctor, at the end of our allotted time of 7 minutes, we will only have scratched the surface of a deeply complex condition, for which Dad will eventually need specialist care.
And as most people who come to see you, Dear Doctor, actually have 4 or five things to discuss, it's hardly surprising that we have to return to see you time and time again, until we eventually give up and live with the pain, or we are referred to a Consultant.
And so, Dear Doctor, I was surprised to find that the Royal College of General Practitioners is running a consultation about the future of general practice and patient care in general practice. Surely, the future of this most vital service would be of wide interest in communities? The consultation is running until 8 October - I hope that many patients will take part.
And finally, Dear Doctor, I signed up for the Patient Participation Survey at the Surgery. I was asked today about what I consider to be the most important aspects of general practice care. These are my responses.
1. Length of appointment time with GP (appointments are very rushed especially for older patients with complex issues)
2. Better information about late running clinics (maybe a text message if the doctor is running more than 30 minutes late)
3. End of life care at home (better planning would help patients and families)
4. Out of hours care (ThamesDoc is a tedious process often of several phone calls followed by 'come to the walk-in centre')
I look forward to our next meeting, Dear Doctor.