I went for an in-person hospital appointment a couple of weeks back for the first time in about 18 months. It was a slightly strange experience after spending such a long time shielding and staying at home because of Covid, and it went without a hitch. It was a cardiology appointment which I was glad to have because I had been feeling some anxiety about my heart rate and having not been seen face to face for an extended period. I was a bit apprehensive going into a hospital but it was no problem at all. I wore a mask, followed the one-way system and the place was very quiet so I felt at ease. I felt only one moment of slight unease when five people entered the tiny room to look at my echo scan but that was still okay. All of the tests were fine and I was reassured by chatting with the consultant and the nurses.
Despite not going to a hospital, I have still been attending virtual appointments over the last two years and seeing respiratory nurses and others at home occasionally. Having telephone consultations and video calls have been very useful during the pandemic for people with neuromuscular and muscle wasting conditions to access some services but face to face meetings remain vitally important when it comes to medical care. A recent report undertaken by Muscular Dystrophy UK (linked below) has highlighted this point, as difficulty in getting appointments has been shown to be detrimental to the physical and mental health of people with neuromuscular disabilities.
DMD and Me 