[Misc] Patients Know Best

[trueblue]

When one of the children was worryingly ill recently my missus spent entire days on the phone.
Step 1 - get through to the surgery phone system
Step 2 - get into phone queue
Step 3 - get receptionist. Ask for appointment. Impossible. Ask for telephone consultation. Ummmm, what's the problem? Oh I'll get one of the clinical team to call you back.
Step 4 - wait,
Step 5 - wait some more.
Step 6 - repeat steps 1 -5
Step 7- answer phone, explain problem. Oh I'll get the nurse practitioner to contact you. What? Are you even a nurse? Never mind. It's getting late so it might be tomorrow morning ok.
step 8 - get through night, wait more, repeat steps 1-5. No we've spoken to a member of clinical team, they said nurse practitioner would call. They did? Yes. I'm sure. At this time. Actually I'd rather speak directly to the doctor and while it may be a dream is they could actually see my child that would be quickest for all parties...
step 9 - now wait for call from nurse practitioner


I'll cut it short, eventually a mere 48 hours later an actual doctor calls. 2 minutes later we send some photos. Very soon after Dr calls again and advice and prescription issued. "it's quite advanced it's important you start the medication as soon as possible". Yes that's why we asked for a doctor two days ago.

That's underfunding for you. Unfortunately why so many people then have to clog up A&E. The admin of the overwhelmed NHS is undoubtedly in a mess but the dedication of the doctors and nurses should not be in doubt. They're in it for the right reasons. Unfortunately, it's just pushing people that can afford it to use private hospitals - which are a further drain on the NHS talent pool, taking qualified nurses and the time of Consultants. Incidentally, when a 'routine' operation turns out to be not so routine, they have nothing like the instant back-up available in our major hospitals. It'll be a 999 call, ambulance and the NHS picking up the pieces. It's almost as if the Government know that if the system doesn't work, its reputation will suffer so badly it can eventually be dismantled as not 'fit for purpose', then reshaped so that areas ripe for profit-making can be cherry-picked. Tried and trusted methods in the private sector. Get hold of something that's doing ok, run it down, deem it to be failing under the new criteria as a means to extract the money.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I use it, although it is far from perfect. It will only get better though with time. In Healthcare as in so many other fields, there are plenty of workers, who don't see what is in it for them, don't like having things imposed on them and don't like change. As a patient, even if you don't want to use it, you will benefit, by being able to speak to someone who is not tied down talking to a queue of people who are happy to self serve online.

 

[beorhthelm]

Unless it’s an emergency or cancer the NHS is broken. It doesn’t help that the delays to see a GP means more people going to A&E for non urgent issues. I had one afternoon in there and a lot of people I saw there were definitely in that camp.

I saw 2 separate GPs in the last few months having pretty much self diagnosed what it was (pretty simple hernia) - both disagreed. I have private healthcare through work so decided to see a hernia specialist and blagged it without a referral, turns out I was right.

Also part of that had an ultrasound which uncovered a more serious issue - operation booked and completed within 2 weeks. Couldn’t even get an ultrasound with the NHS in under 3 months and waitlist for the operation would be about a year.

the GP model is broken and the source of so many problems. i know of people who will go abroad rather than deal with it, others told to go to A&E for better resolution. needs overhauling but it wont be because thats seen as an attack on the NHS (ironic when GPs are contrators, not in the NHS).

 

[jackanada]

That's underfunding for you. Unfortunately why so many people then have to clog up A&E. The admin of the overwhelmed NHS is undoubtedly in a mess but the dedication of the doctors and nurses should not be in doubt. They're in it for the right reasons. Unfortunately, it's just pushing people that can afford it to use private hospitals - which are a further drain on the NHS talent pool, taking qualified nurses and the time of Consultants. Incidentally, when a 'routine' operation turns out to be not so routine, they have nothing like the instant back-up available in our major hospitals. It'll be a 999 call, ambulance and the NHS picking up the pieces. It's almost as if the Government know that if the system doesn't work, its reputation will suffer so badly it can eventually be dismantled as not 'fit for purpose', then reshaped so that areas ripe for profit-making can be cherry-picked. Tried and trusted methods in the private sector. Get hold of something that's doing ok, run it down, deem it to be failing under the new criteria as a means to extract the money.

Too true that many of those utilising private healthcare don't realise how much the NHS is effectively underwriting their services.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I have an excellent GP’s practice and have never failed to get an appointment or telephone call.
Recently, I had a couple of routine blood tests, and noticed one of them had two of four functions outside of the ‘normal’ parameters. I rang the receptionist (in the afternoon when I knew I would get through) and she checked the doctor’s notes. It was ok and just down to age.

Depends what it is of course, but it’s good that your practice is that diligent.

A number of GPs have suggested otherwise, which is why NHS England are investigating further.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Unless it’s an emergency or cancer the NHS is broken. It doesn’t help that the delays to see a GP means more people going to A&E for non urgent issues. I had one afternoon in there and a lot of people I saw there were definitely in that camp.

I saw 2 separate GPs in the last few months having pretty much self diagnosed what it was (pretty simple hernia) - both disagreed. I have private healthcare through work so decided to see a hernia specialist and blagged it without a referral, turns out I was right.

Also part of that had an ultrasound which uncovered a more serious issue - operation booked and completed within 2 weeks. Couldn’t even get an ultrasound with the NHS in under 3 months and waitlist for the operation would be about a year.

Glad you’re ok.

It is very difficult to manage diagnostic capacity, when there is only limited resource. The biggest challenge facing the NHS is workforce, and most staff are on their knees.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

the GP model is broken and the source of so many problems. i know of people who will go abroad rather than deal with it, others told to go to A&E for better resolution. needs overhauling but it wont be because thats seen as an attack on the NHS (ironic when GPs are contrators, not in the NHS).

With you up to the last bit. Why should dealing with waiting lists (the problem with the GP model) be seen as an attack on the NHS?

Unless your proposal is to privatize it.

Would you mind being a little less succinct so we can work out WTF you are on about (not for the first time)?

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

That's underfunding for you. Unfortunately why so many people then have to clog up A&E. The admin of the overwhelmed NHS is undoubtedly in a mess but the dedication of the doctors and nurses should not be in doubt. They're in it for the right reasons. Unfortunately, it's just pushing people that can afford it to use private hospitals - which are a further drain on the NHS talent pool, taking qualified nurses and the time of Consultants. Incidentally, when a 'routine' operation turns out to be not so routine, they have nothing like the instant back-up available in our major hospitals. It'll be a 999 call, ambulance and the NHS picking up the pieces. It's almost as if the Government know that if the system doesn't work, its reputation will suffer so badly it can eventually be dismantled as not 'fit for purpose', then reshaped so that areas ripe for profit-making can be cherry-picked. Tried and trusted methods in the private sector. Get hold of something that's doing ok, run it down, deem it to be failing under the new criteria as a means to extract the money.

Not just this government I would suggest.

To be fair there’s a lot of really diligent administrative staff as well, who are doing their best under absurd pressures.

It’s not just about throwing money at it, everything needs a complete rethink IMO. CDCs are a good start, as they remove some routine diagnostics out of hospitals. Given the workforce shortages, the next thing that needs to be pushed (again IMO) are networked staff, working across multiple hospitals.

 

[amexer]

the GP model is broken and the source of so many problems. i know of people who will go abroad rather than deal with it, others told to go to A&E for better resolution. needs overhauling but it wont be because thats seen as an attack on the NHS (ironic when GPs are contrators, not in the NHS).

It should not be broken. Service was fine before Covid. Can only talk for my practice but since covid Doctors have just hung on to not wanting to see people. On the basis of happy with 3 days income now very few work full time. What happened to full time doctors.

 

[beorhthelm]

It should not be broken. Service was fine before Covid. Can only talk for my practice but since covid Doctors have just hung on to not wanting to see people. On the basis of happy with 3 days income now very few work full time. What happened to full time doctors.

one problem, pension rules that make it not worth their while to stay in work.

 

[Weststander]

Consultants work in private hospitals and clinics because the money’s astonishingly high. They always have done, under governments of any colour. I had a couple of private ops in the 00’s, the surgeons carried out work at the Nuffield Woodingdean each morning early-ish, then onto the Royal Sussex or Eye Hospital, with evening clinics once a week at the Nuffield. Highly skilled, deserving of their riches.

 

[Trevor]

I have access to my medical record. I should periodically check it if I were you. I have had an instance where some data was recorded on my record was for some other patient and entered on my record by mistake.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

I use it all the time, it's fantastic. See blood results within an hour or two, appointment reminders, very useful

 

[amexer]

one problem, pension rules that make it not worth their while to stay in work.

I am talking about Doctors well below retirement age who are happy to pick up 3 days money