the NHS

Savvy_Sue

Dora_the_Explorer wrote:

Absolutely right, Sue. Unfortunately PALS can be a bit patchy, at one hospital near me PALS support is a leaflet stand and a telephone number. I have heard of good and bad experiences with PALS in other health 'patches', so it can be the luck of the draw.

But I'm sure someone told me that if there wasn't a PALS at your hospital, you should let the local patient body know - I don't remember the right name - because it was a legal requirement! I know when I first rang there was a staff vacancy and the existing staff member was on holiday so it's hard to deal with that, but there was at least information on the answerphone about where to get help / who to contact in different situations.

Dora_the_Explorer wrote:

Maybe a good gp/patient relationship is the best help and support for anyone.

Yup, nothing beats it!

Dora_the_Explorer_5

You're right Sue - but the PALS worker dedicated hours can be at the discretion of the hospital trust so they can use a leaflet stand and a phone number/answerphone. Nigel Crisp - of blessed memory - recently instructed Trusts not to do any 'discretionary' work unless it was clinically vital, and some Trusts may decide to run a minimum PALS service rather than close beds/delay surgery etc.
I think the patient body you're thinking of is is Commission for Public and Patient Involvement which is the national organisation, and due to be taken behind the barn and shot in the head sometime this year if nhs rumours are right, and they often are. No doubt it will be replaced by something else.
The only PALS service I have come across that I would be confident using is run on contract by a volunatry sector organisation.
Excellent advice from Ribenagirl - I know two Trust chief executives who have done exactly what she suggests.I nsider knowledge ?
For anyone who's thinking about having any procedure at a non nhs hospital: ask them how they handle unplanned for events, like for instance cardiac emergencies, both for day patients and overnighters.

digp

Isn't it the case that GPs are a classic example of mediocrity?

Savvy_Sue

digp wrote:

Isn't it the case that GPs are a classic example of mediocrity?

Not sure what you're saying, but with my family I've had EXCELLENT GP care, at least for the last 20 years, they've known when to refer me on but I couldn't have asked for better treatment within the surgery. There's also been an excellent book serialised on Radio 4 this week, Surburban Shaman, and he compared the treatment you get from a GP to what you get from a consultant - the GP gets a long term, broad picture, whereas the specialist only really gets a snapshot. Yes, sometimes you need the snapshot, examining part of your body in depth, but I don't need to be referred to a neurologist for my headaches if they're down to depression, or my hormones, and you can get to see a GP rather quicker than you can a neurologist anyway!

mrseyes

I have heard this where patient goes for private consultation and jump the nhs queues. But i have also heard that now hospital management are checking on and questioning about this practice. For instance if pt who require a cataract operation, seen privately and then tranfered to nhs, they do not have priority over nhs pts and would be treated like any other nhs pts.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Paying for a private consultation and then having treatment on the nhs doesn't mean one would jump the queue for treatment -the nhs treats people according to clinical need. It enables people to avoid the waiting list for a first consultation.

ceebeeby

Hello,

Just to join the debate, in theory the NHS have systems that mean private patients CANNOT jump any queues. You would have to be registered as an NHS patient to use NHS equipment otherwise you wouldn't be insured etc. If your Consultant was happy to sneak you in the back door and was then found out - he would be disciplined at the very least.

The suggestion to go to your MP seemed slightly premature, firstly it wouldn't get you anywhere higher up the list (unless your consultant is after something politically!!), and secondly, if everyone did this, you'd be right back at the beginning.

With new waiting times regulations you MUST be seen at present within 18 weeks of appt in England and 26 weeks in Scotland (although this changes to 18 next year). You are perfectly entitled to phone up your hospital and find out where you are on the list.

Additionally, if your symptoms have altered since you saw your GP you should either go back to him / her, or if you are in pain you should go to your local Casualty Department where you can explain about your referral and request to be seen there and then.

Part of patient choice is being seen where you want to be seen, which means if you are not satisfied with the service of your local hospital, then you can investigate other NHS hospitals that have shorter waiting times and attend for your treatment there.

HTH

Toothsmith

Anyone interested in where the NHS is going should read THIS BOOK.

As someone who's seen the REAL agenda of Government NHS policy first hand, I can thoroughly recommend it.

digp

the NHS is farce

RACHIE77

ribenagirl wrote:

Oh, forgot to say. In the next couple of years, techically your GP will be able to look on their computer, see what consultants are available within a certain radius, see who's got the shortest waiting lists, and if you agree, send you there even if it's out of town. Being on the other end of that system, I am loathing and dreading it as it has not been properly thought through, but that's a different story. At the moment, your GP will only have a contract with their local healthcare provider to treat you, and you *can* get referred elsewhere, but they'll have to pay for your treatment which obviously they can't often afford, so they keep quiet about it

Is this what you mean??

There is a system called Choose and Book that is in operation now but the GP has to have signed up to it to enable you to be able to be part of the scheme... I think that the idea is that GPs will be signing up to it as part of offering patients more choice, it is in operation in some areas but I guess you would know if your GP had signed up as they would tell you when they needed to get you in for an op...

More info here