The Big Society

[Captain Kong]

Hi Tom,
My information is up to date, I asked my son, a Consultant Surgeon, on Boxing day, he does liver transplants , BIG OP, and many other internal Operations, So he is the man who does it, maybe No one has told him Not to operate on 70 + year olds.
Only last week just before Christmas he operated on the bowells of a lady who was 80 years old. I had mentioned this to him. His reply was the same as the Surgeon I use, He is based 300 miles from me otherwise I would go to his hospital, He used to be at Liverpool Royal Hospital many years ago.
I was told by my Surgeon here in Bolton, he explained that the older you get the severity of Intrusive Surgery can be quite dramatic in elderly patients.
The Big problem is Anaesthetic, Can the heart and lungs take it.?? Bleeding , in old people that is another big problem, they bleed a lot easier and it is more difficult to control than in younger people. and Shock, the body goes into shock when it is cut open so there could be a risk of heart attack. , so there you have it. If it is not life threatening then dont have it, Many Patients have died during an operation due to these risk factors.
.
I had an operation with full anaesthetic last June when I had to get an Ambulance one midnight as I say I am pushing 78 next birthday. The risks were pointed out to me before the operation, I said go ahead, I had confidence in my general fitness. I was due to have an operation on my knee that I had injured last January on Queen Mary, in November, previously the surgeon had suggested physio first, so I did that for six months and at the time of the planned surgery I saw him and he said I didnt need an operation, Arthroscopy, So the leg is nw better.
.
So all in all it is the general fitness of the Patient, They will not operate if the Risk is too great. they do not like to kill patients, but to keep them alive as long as possible.
IT IS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS,
Cheers
Brian.

[Captain Kong]

I have heard that Liverpool has a "PATHWAY to death ", where an elderly patient is denied treatment and sustenance.
That must just be a custom in the Liverpool Royal, that is wrong. Is it Legal ? I would ask.
Why have the Management come up with this daft and leathal idea, why does the Nursing and Surgical Staff allow it.?
Has this decision been taken to Court??
This is a National Health Service, Not a Regional Health Service, also if it is about money, it is the elderly who have contributed the most into it, paying all their lives into the system.
If I can have an operation here 35 miles away then why not in Liverpool.?
The People of Liverpool should be up in arms about this decision. Get the Hospital to do what hospitals do, treat Patients and make them better or if too far gone in health make them comfortable with all the appropiate treatment. Nothing should be denied.
Cheers
Brian.

[John Pruden]

Jim we in Liverpool are one of only a few that give the clot busting injection for the first sign of a stroke many parts of the country don't because of cost its about £800.00 a shot but it saved me i still have many side effects from the stroke but without it i would have had no chance the clot had burst in my heart giving me a heart attack and the rest went to the brain giving me a stroke in the one go. i used to attend the stroke clinics and some of the younger victims would never get out of a bed again the sooner they give you the shot the more chance you have. i would recommend that every member here get themselves a blood pressure machine they don't cost much from any good chemist and check you own every day don't leave it till its to late{i did}.jp

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
My blood pressure is monitored every month, and I take the relevent tablets daily to control the blood pressure.
High blood pressure can lead to Heart attack and strokes and is one of the biggest Killers today.
I have stopped smoking, reduced the alcohol intake to a minimum and do exercises, I have just had 30 minutes on my excercise Bike and lifting my dumb bells, with a Bendy bar excersise as well.
I have just had a full medical two weeks ago, the blood tests had very good results, Kydney function tests, Liver function tests, PSA test and a lung function test.
Everything works and no leaks. At this age you have to keep on top of it.
Keep it up. Lets hope we are all still here next year.
Cheers
Brian.

[Captain Kong]

A problem with the new system today for Doctors, [ GPs] is they now have full control of their budgets. to operate their practice. In the old days a Doctor sent you to hospital for an Xray or scan, No problem.

The way it now works is, if your GP sends you to the Hospital he has to pay the Hospital.
You have been a smoker, for example, you have been coughing badly, so you want a Scan or Xray of your chest. You see a Consultant at the hospital , he gives you a Scan or Xray, he then sends your Doctor, GP a bill for the costs involved for the Xray or Scan and for his time. The GPs Surgery then has to pay the Consultant out of his budget.
Now sometimes you may ask your Doctor, GP can you have a certain treatment and your GP will tell you that you dont need it, just have some of these pills take it easy and you`ll be alright.
Now some of the Drug companies offer Doctors incentives if they prescribe their products, so you could even get a medication that is not as good as some other company`s medication, but your GP wants a free holiday to the Bahamas, So that also goes on.
Treatment today is still a gamble.
Have a nice day
Brian.

[John Pruden]

Brian my doctors are very good every 6 weeks blood tests stroke clinic the physio had to stop due to the spinal tumor and splinters in the spinal canal but apart from that i still hope to be taking the urine out of members for a long time to comejp

[Jim Brady]

UP to 60.000 patients per year die on the controversial Liverpool Care Pathway without giving their consent.Critics say the care regime,in which medics deny dying hostpital patients food and water,is an attempt to cut costs and free up beds.And many families are said not to have given consent either.So all you old guys BE AFRAID BE VERY AFRAID as this system is going to be rolled out across the country.the argument from the NHS is that lots of old people dont want to die with tubes going in and out of their body.they want to die in a dignified way
Regards.
jim.B.
log on to the site Liverpool Care Pathway and see what you think.

[Captain Kong]

I am sure that could be illegal, it is euthanasia by a different name. every one has the right to be cared for and not starved and dehydrated to death.
How bad does one have to be to be to be put onto This Liverpool Pathway? or indeed how old?
It sounds like something from Natzi Death Camp.
.
I`ll come back to it. just off next door for a bevy,
Cheers
Brian.
Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP)About the LCP
The LCP is an integrated care pathway that is used at the bedside to drive up sustained quality of the dying in the last hours and days of life.

It is a means to transfer the best quality for care of the dying from the hospice movement into other clinical areas, so that wherever the person is dying there can be an equitable model of care.

The LCP has been implemented into hospitals, care homes, in the individuals own home / community and into the hospice.

The LCP is not the answer to all our needs for care of the dying but is a step in the right direction.

It is recommended as a best practice model, most recently, by the Department of Health in the UK.

"The LCP affirms the vision of transferring the model of excellence for care of the dying from hospice care into other healthcare settings. We have demonstrated a process that inspires, motivates and truly empowers the generic workforce in caring for the patient and their family in the last hours or days of life."
Deborah Murphy, National Lead Nurse-LCP, Associate Director MCPCIL

[Jim Brady]

Brian,people ar being put on it without agreement from the patient or the family.what it amounts to you are past your sell by date"So it's good night Vienna"
Regards.
Jim.B.

[John Pruden]

its been going on for years terminal cancer patients and dia morphine there is a spring loaded tube on a drip for many its a blessing when my father in law was dieing i asked the doctor to load the needle and i would give it to him. if you seen a dog that way you would have put him down he denide my request.jp