tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post8373172624948173010..comments2024-02-10T12:12:06.028+00:00Comments on The Real Blog: We need to know why A&Es are in crisisDavid Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410159311875228620noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-26170450859865325622015-02-02T15:59:40.478+00:002015-02-02T15:59:40.478+00:00Couldn't agree more with this post (and with t...Couldn't agree more with this post (and with the comments about ditching the 95% in 4 hours target as it doesn't help). <br /><br />I'm always startled by how little comment or analysis there is on the WHY of these issues as opposed to hand wringing. <br /><br />When it goes beyond 'look at how bad it is' pieces, the commentary proposes solutions - but without apparently understandign causes, so with no idea whether the solution will actually help. Bizarre. And worrying. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-82701467714174932712015-01-11T17:39:34.626+00:002015-01-11T17:39:34.626+00:00I would add to the list:
"The inability of N...I would add to the list:<br /><br />"The inability of NHS staff, including doctors, to take responsibility, innovate, adapt to circumstances, and improve efficiencies."<br /><br />For example, if people are turning up at A&E and shouldn't be, turn them away at a rapid, low-cost triage stage. If drunken friends are a problem, use the existing security staff to eject them.<br /><br />The NHS debate needs to move away from "how much more?" to "how to make best use?" This is a question private business asks itself all the time. "More" may be necessary given changing demographics, but the NHS collectively needs to demonstrate it is making best use of what it has. <br /><br />I believe part of the problem is the divide between doctors and management. In every sphere of private business, management is something technicians grow into. They learn about the issues of efficiency, staff management, and opportunity cost as they work their way up, and then use this, with their technical expertise to guide the organisation. The NHS trains doctors to be aloof, self-interested technicians how seem to refuse to take on board the responsibilities of organisational management.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16726324398934097722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-12360090645643428932015-01-07T13:49:03.204+00:002015-01-07T13:49:03.204+00:00"My experience as someone who works 20 miles ..."My experience as someone who works 20 miles from home is that it is not possible for me to see a GP without taking a day off, or by being really, really lucky on a Saturday morning."<br /><br />You might now be able to register with a GP near your place of work. See http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/patient-choice-GP-practices.aspxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-23256207800405323952015-01-07T13:26:40.112+00:002015-01-07T13:26:40.112+00:00The target should be done away with, but I don'...The target should be done away with, but I don't see why a GP service can't be provided at or near to an A&E. Many hospitals colocate a walk-in centre on their grounds, or have a mobile GP on hand for big nights like 'Blackeye Friday' already so it's just a case of extending this practice and extending opening hours.<br /><br />My experience as someone who works 20 miles from home is that it is not possible for me to see a GP without taking a day off, or by being really, really lucky on a Saturday morning. While that's fine for sickness, GPs' role as a gatekeeper to other NHS services mean that's not the only reason I might want to see one. <br /><br />If people are turning up to A&E then the fight to convince them to use another service has already been lost, so they will wait and clog it up unless there is something they can be moved to on the spotJames Blanchardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169740113013066976.post-62114765909239423192015-01-07T12:21:26.792+00:002015-01-07T12:21:26.792+00:00Drop the 4-hour A&E wait target, ensure people...Drop the 4-hour A&E wait target, ensure people are assessed quickly on arrival and tell those who should have gone elsewhere that if they end up waiting 8 hours or whatever that's tough.<br /><br />The 4-hour wait target is an open invitation to people with health problems which are not particularly serious to go to A&E instead of their GPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com