I have a swab up my nose. My phone is ringing on the seat beside me. It’s the boss. And I think: “Well that’s terribly unfortunate timing.” My foot taps the floor of the car as I try to compartmentalise the discomfort of the experience. The lady swabber, who is very nice, tells me we are almost finished. Despite what I had been told, I do not feel like someone is sticking a nail into my brain. As the swab is removed, the phone stops ringing. It’s Friday at 11am in Nowlan Park.
A PPE pack was provided at the test centre containing two masks some tissues and instructions.
The lady said I would get my results within 24-48 hours and I was a little incredulous at this. After all we are talking about the Irish health system that is frequently, if not constantly, under fire. I ask: “Over the weekend?” and she nods and smiles with her eyes. The smile; it’s probably around her mouth too but I can’t see that with her mask. I reply, with a hint of a smile myself: “Don’t rush it, I can’t do the shopping.” She laughs in response and says: “Small blessings, milk it for all it’s worth.” I drive off. I call the boss back.
So how did all this come about? I had physio on Thursday. The protocol to get into my physio is straightforward. Wellness-to-attend forms are filled out online in advance, you get a text to tell you when you can come into the clinic and both of us wear masks. My physio Eamon met me at the door as usual and asked: “How are you Amii?”
“I am great Eamon, and yourself?” We made small talk about how I am finding my exercises and the regularity with which I am doing them, as he held the thermometer to my forehead.
I suggested a walk around in the cold. He suggested that might be cheating
Then I could see it in his eyes (I am getting good at the eye reading thing) and he took a step back. I didn’t really need to ask but I asked anyway: Am I hot?” He nods, we repeated it again after a few minutes and then again. I suggested a walk around in the cold. He suggested that might be cheating. He was correct of course. And with that I headed back to the car to plan my next steps. I called my GP expecting to get the usual “The surgery is now closed” message I had heard so often when I called out of hours with a sick child. But instead it was answered. I was told that Dr Ryan would call me back. He did just that at 8pm. And at 8.05pm, I received a text from swiftQueue to confirm my COVID-19 test appointment.
I got my result in a text, the same way that my appointment was confirmed on Thursday night
The efficiency continued. From the army man who waved me into the carpark of Nowlan Park to the lovely nurse with the swab – I did get my results within 48 hours. By 4.20pm on Saturday I was confirmed COVID-19 free again. I got my result in a text, the same way that my appointment was confirmed on Thursday night. Well at least “AMIL” did. We have already had the funny name spelling conversation in this column, so I won’t go over old ground. Considering how great the service was, a small typo is completely forgivable.
On Sunday morning I was queried as to how I was feeling from the bedroom door by two small women
Now I think of all the people that are helping to make this happen, and I am very grateful for their long hours, their diligence to protocol and their smiling eyes. On Sunday morning I was queried as to how I was feeling from the bedroom door by two small women. And despite my prognosis already being known, I thought coffee and toast in bed wasn’t too much to ask for.
Read more
Pour yourself a cup of ambition
'This is working for me but what is coming down the line I don’t know'
I have a swab up my nose. My phone is ringing on the seat beside me. It’s the boss. And I think: “Well that’s terribly unfortunate timing.” My foot taps the floor of the car as I try to compartmentalise the discomfort of the experience. The lady swabber, who is very nice, tells me we are almost finished. Despite what I had been told, I do not feel like someone is sticking a nail into my brain. As the swab is removed, the phone stops ringing. It’s Friday at 11am in Nowlan Park.
A PPE pack was provided at the test centre containing two masks some tissues and instructions.
The lady said I would get my results within 24-48 hours and I was a little incredulous at this. After all we are talking about the Irish health system that is frequently, if not constantly, under fire. I ask: “Over the weekend?” and she nods and smiles with her eyes. The smile; it’s probably around her mouth too but I can’t see that with her mask. I reply, with a hint of a smile myself: “Don’t rush it, I can’t do the shopping.” She laughs in response and says: “Small blessings, milk it for all it’s worth.” I drive off. I call the boss back.
So how did all this come about? I had physio on Thursday. The protocol to get into my physio is straightforward. Wellness-to-attend forms are filled out online in advance, you get a text to tell you when you can come into the clinic and both of us wear masks. My physio Eamon met me at the door as usual and asked: “How are you Amii?”
“I am great Eamon, and yourself?” We made small talk about how I am finding my exercises and the regularity with which I am doing them, as he held the thermometer to my forehead.
I suggested a walk around in the cold. He suggested that might be cheating
Then I could see it in his eyes (I am getting good at the eye reading thing) and he took a step back. I didn’t really need to ask but I asked anyway: Am I hot?” He nods, we repeated it again after a few minutes and then again. I suggested a walk around in the cold. He suggested that might be cheating. He was correct of course. And with that I headed back to the car to plan my next steps. I called my GP expecting to get the usual “The surgery is now closed” message I had heard so often when I called out of hours with a sick child. But instead it was answered. I was told that Dr Ryan would call me back. He did just that at 8pm. And at 8.05pm, I received a text from swiftQueue to confirm my COVID-19 test appointment.
I got my result in a text, the same way that my appointment was confirmed on Thursday night
The efficiency continued. From the army man who waved me into the carpark of Nowlan Park to the lovely nurse with the swab – I did get my results within 48 hours. By 4.20pm on Saturday I was confirmed COVID-19 free again. I got my result in a text, the same way that my appointment was confirmed on Thursday night. Well at least “AMIL” did. We have already had the funny name spelling conversation in this column, so I won’t go over old ground. Considering how great the service was, a small typo is completely forgivable.
On Sunday morning I was queried as to how I was feeling from the bedroom door by two small women
Now I think of all the people that are helping to make this happen, and I am very grateful for their long hours, their diligence to protocol and their smiling eyes. On Sunday morning I was queried as to how I was feeling from the bedroom door by two small women. And despite my prognosis already being known, I thought coffee and toast in bed wasn’t too much to ask for.
Read more
Pour yourself a cup of ambition
'This is working for me but what is coming down the line I don’t know'
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