Care in the community?

[Lou Barron]

Sorry to hear of your health problems John G ,hope things get better for you and keep smiling

[John Arton]

Regarding a persons medical records in the U.K.
For years now the NHS have been attempting to computerise all medical records and do away with written doctors notes, even getting doctors to write their notes on tablets when doing ward rounds, tablets being electronic devices before any smart comments. The problem is that different health authorities use different operating systems and software so even if your G.P. of Hospital Doctor/Consultant transcribes his notes regarding your treatment onto a computer it does not mean that these notes are available country wide for all medical professionals to view. The NHS has wasted billions trying to devise a system that would enable this but last I heard after spending 50 million on it they scrapped it and started all over again, this despite there being an off the shelf system that is widely used in the USA and other countries being available that apparently could be easily modified to suit the NHS requirements.
The biggest problem with the NHS is not the amount of money it receives but the huge amount of money it wastes on managers, outside consultancy fees that supposedly design the best looking hospital or computer system or parking, you get the gist.
My local NHS trust is prepared to pay an outside contractor £60 for 45 minutes work for one guy to come in and clean an A and E bay or hospital ward bay, after it has being vacated by the previous patient. The work consists of wiping down walls with special antiseptic solution, wiping down or changing the curtain around the bay/bed and wiping over the bed frame. This the NHS reckons is more efficient than employing in house cleaners!!!!
If some one was to take the NHS and shake it by its throat until all the deadwood and chaff fell out then the amount we put into it annually would be more than adequate to fund treatment for throughout our life span, have the best most modern and up to date hospitals staffed with ample, highly trained doctors/nurses/consultants providing cutting edge treatments for all manner of diseases and illness's but instead we allow significant proportions of its budget to be wasted on Managers/Consultancies/unworkable computer systems etc. etc.
rgds
JA

[John Gill]

I've also had the dreaded letter, --- have a nice day!!

Bloody hell Ivan!

[Ivan Cloherty]

Bloody hell Ivan!

Gilly, 'Always look on the bright side of life'

[John Gill]

Just glancing through some of the comments following my initial post and it's interesting to view other members opinions and advice. Seems that my experience isn't being rolled out nationwide, probably as Kong points out, it seems to be fiscally driven in certain areas, whereas other health authorites have yet to do their sums. I do have certain health issues, Who here does not! However i am regulary monitored and medicated, and only a few days ago was declared 'fit and well'. I still hold a #1 hgv licence which entails a compulsory dvla medical yearly which is quite thorough, which i have taken every year since i was 65. I do believe that being monitered and medicated is a form of Intensive Care for the elderly- A bit like being hooked up to the technology in a critical care unit in hospital- Some types of medication have side effects, one or two of my own did and of course, back to the gp and demand a change. I think we all realise that most gp's will always try out the cheaper generic pills on patients and will change them, only if you complain, to the more expensive branded ones. Well, off now to see some Argies & Krauts battle it out down the pub and drink three times my advised alcohol consumption.
gilly

[Captain Kong]

This the way some surgerys treat their patients.
I am being treated by Salford Royal Hospital, their Consultant gave me a prescription and details of how to use it and the amount, had biopsy, blood test , etc, and come back in a month. that is one week Monday. 21st. so I put in for another prescription at my Docs surgery, went to pick up my prescription for the medication prescribed by the hospital,.
A Doctor at my Surgery, [from the east] had put a note on the Reception desk saying I was having too much, so no prescription, As I am obeying the Consultants orders, I questioned it, as I have none left. The lady on the desk said, You will have to make an appointment with the Doctor if you question it. So, OK give me an appointment, The first appointment is in two weeks. So I will have been back to the hospital by then and seen the Consultant.
It is so frustrating.
Then I realised, the Surgery has to pay for the Prescriptions out of their Budget.
Problem solved.
Cheers
Brian.

[John Pruden]

I'm sure they have forgotten about me I used to go for a scan every 6 months I went in like a torpedo I had a cap made to pinpoint a clot after my first stroke the blockage has not moved it cannot be taken out no scan now for a year. blood was taken every 5 weeks non taken for months now except when in dock a few weeks ago low white cells so open to viruses and infections, no scans for the tumour on my spine which is still benign {I hope} I had an opp on my neck a few years ago doctor knew nothing about it I told him do you think I put 40 stiches in the back of my own neck the scare is right through the muscle. apart from that top of the world secret is ride the knocks ohh and throw in 2 heart attacks but who gives a sh.te I'm still here and plan to be for a long time been dead once not going back yet?jp

[Captain Kong]

CHANGE your Doctor John
I am thinking of changing mine. it is your life not his,
He gets a fee, of about £60 for issuing a death Certificate, so he is not bothered, he wins both ways.
Cheers
Brian

[Des Taff Jenkins]

HI All.
Here in NSW at least they have computerized every ones medical files for a few years now, don't have to carry papers from the Dr to specialists as they have your records on hand saves time and money. I pay nothing for a DR's visit and only $75 for the first to a specialist.
Australia has around 700,000 volunteers many helping the aged, In Cooma here which is only a little town we have a great hospital and they welcome you when your ill, the Dr's are great no sweat with anything. I only hope it remains so as we haven't had any reffos as yet.
Cheers DEs

[happy daze john in oz]

Not knowing much about the UK NHS only what family there tell me I consider some of it to still be in the dark ages. Here in Oz you can choose, as I did, to go for 'E Health' that way all your past medical history fot the past 5 years is availble by computer. One of the good aspects of this is if you end up in emergency or with a odd doctor whilst away from home they can look up all your medical records.
Almost all GP's here now computerise patienst records and after all specialists treatments you are entitled to a print out of their findings. GP's here tend to over supply when it comes to sending patienst to specialists.