Care in the community?

[John Gill]

I recently reached the age of 75, and along with my rude birthday cards was a letter from my gp inviting me to her surgery for a discussion about my future health. Over the past year i have had one or two (or more) admissions to A&E. One occasion was chest pains which were, after a angiogram, diagnosed as angina. I take Warfarin which, as many of you might know, causes blood thinning but also is a risk if there is a problem of bleeding. My wife had occasion to call the paramedics recently after an accident in the shower involving glass entering my leg and the bleeding would not stop. Of course, by the time they arrived the wound had begun to clot, but i was merely following advice from the Warfarin clinic if this sort of incident did occur. Upshot is that my GP tells me that I am becoming an 'expensive patient' and devised a strategy to try to prevent me becoming a strain on the NHS. If I am in need of the Emergency Service I should ring my local surgery and would be fast tracked to see a doctor or clinician, or if unable to call, i would receive a home visit. Also my entire medical history would be available online to be accessed by any health professional who had to deal with any issue, this would include UK & Europe. Sounds like a good idea, but I'm concerned about who is termed a 'health professional. Like a lot of us on here, for 50 or more years have hardly cost the Nhs the price of an aspirin( apart, of course the infrequent visit to Dr Ross for the occasional repair), so i believe it's pay- back time now. I am now considering my options and it would be interesting to know if any other UK members have had a similar experience.

[cappy]

john i have been told that my whole health dossier is online and can be loked at from any hospital or doctor in the uk ....i think this is becoming standard for us older buggers ...and in time most persons will have the same ...it cannot be a bad thingto have all medical authorities able to get your records immediately.......regards keep well cappy

[Captain Kong]

Not heard of that one John.
I presume you are not a strain on the NHS, But maybe on your Doctor`s Annual Budget.
Each Surgery has an annual budget for each patient on their books. eg, If a Surgery has 5,000 Registered Patients and they get say, £500 per annum per Patient, then the Surgery will have £2,5 million pounds for the treatment of their patients. This will include. prescriptions, visits to hospital to see a Consultant, Xrays, Scans, etc.
So if they keep within their budget then they will get a bonus.
Some patients are there all the time and some never.
So she is probably thinking that you are now coming up to the age where you will need more treatmen and cost her her Bonus.
Last year I had two major life saving operations in Honolulu, the Surgeon there gave me a letter for my doctor saying that I would need a CT Scan on my Pancreas when I returned home. My Doctor said, "No you do not need a Scan, you will be OK"
I waited a couple of days, there was a part time Doctor there so I booked with her,
No problem, she said, picked up the phone and booked me into a private hospital for a CT Scan four days later. then I had the Scan and recieved two DVDs of the Scan. All on the Doctors Budget.
So never believe what your Doctor says, always check with another Doctor. It is your body and your life.
Our Generation paid in NI Stamps for 50 years, 15 to 65, and Income Tax on top of that.
There are millions of people here who have never paid a penny in. So we should demand, not ask, treatment at anytime we need it.
I am waiting to see what happens when Euthenasia comes legal, that is one way of saving on the budget.
I always hear Polititions saying , we have an aging population and that is why we are a burden on the State, The berstereds, we paid for the whole lot of it.
Cheers
Brian.

---------- Post added at 12:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 PM ----------

Another point to think about is, If you have a problem, say Liver, gall bladder and Pancreas, or a heart problem or a cancer problem, and so on. Check out your Hospitals first.
Now what they are doing is... Certain Hospitals are now Specialising in certain ailments,
eg. If you have a Liver,/pancreatic or gall bladder, [ all are associated] then in the north here, go to Aintree University Hospital, Manchester Royal Hospital, or to St James Hospital in Leeds, etc.
For Heart problems Withinshaw Hospital near Manchester and so on. Many hositals do not specialize in various ailments so beware.
My mates wife went to our local hospital with a Liver cancer caused by her heavy drinking, for five years they messed about with her and she has just died. I told her many many times where to go, Manchester Royal, or St James, but no, and it killed her. Many Hospitals are just do not specialize in certain ailments but will treat you, but you will not get the right treatment
My ex wife always went to the local hospital with severe lung problems caused by her smoking,, I kept on telling her I would take her to Salford Royal Hospital where they specialise in Lung diseases, I took her to see the top man in europe, he said it was too late , she should have come sooner, she died a few weeks later, last year
So Check out your hospitals, it is on Google.
Cheers
Brian

[Ivan Cloherty]

I've also had the dreaded letter, but am somewhat over 75, but it's apparently new rules came in force in May this year, any patient 75 or over must have a named doctor and no other doctor in that practice will see them. So what's changed apart from I've always had a named doctor, but hardly got to see him and was passed from pillar to post with anyone who was free, providing of course I could get an appointment in the first place! Don't think I have been a drain on their resources as have only been twice in 12 months and that was at their request for my asthma checkup. Beware if they ask you for a blood sample, the needle may be tainted with something to make you expire quicker so that you will not be a drain on their resources!! have a nice day!!

[Captain Kong]

Also beware of Doctors diagnosis. A Doctor is a General Pratitioner, GP. very few are Specialists.
A lady friend went to her Doctor several times with a mole and was told by her GP that it was nothing to worry about. after more than a year it was looking horrible.
I took her to hospital a couple of weeks ago and it was Cancer, she had to have an Operation there and then, it was well advanced. She now has to have Chemo. It could have cost her her life. Now a long treatment.
Was the Doctor thinking more of his budget than his patient?? or could he not recognise a skin cancer.??
If in doubt always Demand to see a Consultant in that subject.
Cheers
Brian

[John Pruden]

my doctor put in for social services 2 years ago for help around the house still waiting ? I must come from the wrong side of Europe??jp

[Captain Kong]

Keep on his back John, if he wont do anything then change your Doctor, then he will lose the allowance for you on his budget.
Cheers
Brian

[John Pruden]

I think they are waiting for me to snuff it? but I've got news for them I'm going to live forever?? jp

[Louis the Amigo]

HI SHIPMATES, I dont know about your part of the world but here in Wales care of any type is few and far between, unless you have the means to go private, My great shipmate and friend Laurie 88yrs did get a couple of hours a week at the end of his illness, both he and his mrs were in a bad way. This is normal as the council has cut all social services to the bone and day care and home care has allmost gone what is left is only for the most urgent cases on ration. I have hear reports off friends over 70yrs that many are been told your on the waiting list for urgent treatments? As posted cuts are now starting to bite maybe more so in WALES, as the public sector was a big employer of people. I spoke to someone today who worked on the council 36 years {ROADS} who took the money and ran his words, his job was non stop never a blank day off, but will be in private hands soon a few private companys have tenders out for the work? But the CARE sector is finish the council dump it over the last few years ? private care homes were sold off in the housing boom, at great profit for the owners. Care will become no pay, no way, very soon your property will pay for it.

[John Gill]

my doctor put in for social services 2 years ago for help around the house still waiting ? I must come from the wrong side of Europe??jp

Or the wrong side of the Mersey John.