Anyone had a 'pulse rhythm check' at the doctor's?

[Big John]

I had a text the other week from the doctors inviting me to have a pulse rhythm check. I'm retired so, not wanting to turn down a freebie after contributing my taxes for 46 years, I took them up on the offer. So yesterday off I cycled to the surgery, expecting maybe some sort of ECG or at the very least a heart rate gizmo machine. The nurse, a young lady who looked about 12, greeted me and we chewed the fat for a minute or two before she asked me to expose the wrist of my right arm. She then placed a couple of fingers on my wrist, looked briefly at her watch, and said thanks for coming. I asked if that was it and she said yes. She said everything was fine, my pulse was 60bpm and off you trot. I said all you've done is checked to see if I'm alive, which I obviously am because I'd cycled there. Has anyone here been offered one of these checks and, more importantly, has anyone a scooby do what it's supposed to show?

 

[Drago]

They know youll be out at a certain time so nip round to burgle your house. The first few goes are to lull you into a false sense of security, then BAM! You get home and find your Bergerac VHS collection and tv remote have been stolen.

 

[Big John]

I wondered where they'd gone. Bugger. Even the NHS are a gang of scam artists. At least you've answered the question 👍

 

[fossyant]

Just wait till they get the 'Keeping Up Appearances' VHS tapes !

 

[rualexander]

Maybe some kind of quick check for atrial fibrillation or something else that shows up as an irregular pulse rate.

 

[midlife]

More likely that the practice gets paid for hitting targets to screen various patient groups …..

 

[Profpointy]

Maybe some kind of quick check for atrial fibrillation or something else that shows up as an irregular pulse rate.

Are they really going to get that without an ECG or whatever though? GPs have at least basic model ECGs these days - I speak from experience

 

[Drago]

I speak from experience

Ah, an ECG salesman!

 

[Profpointy]

Ah, an ECG salesman!

Well, more like a customer, or at least, a user. My problems, now resolved, were elsewhere fortunatley