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Frailty assessment absolutely fuming

(58 Posts)
Minigrandma Tue 27-Aug-24 15:04:15

I have just had a telephone frailty assessment and when i have gone on to my medical records online for something else, i have read what has been written about me.
I am absolutely astounded that the majority of the information that is there i was not even asked about, and what he did ask some of it is wrong.
It makes me look like i could run a marathon tomorrow, when in fact i am lucky to make it to my front door without having to pause for breath.
I have multiple health issues but obviously its just a box ticking exercise.
Have tried ringing my GP practice no one is answering the phone.
So emailed instead.

growstuff Thu 29-Aug-24 10:57:18

Gransthebest

Can I ask what a frailty assessment is for?
Is it for a disability benefit or a health check up.Ive never heard of this.Thanks.

This is from the NHS:

"What does the new frailty identification requirement in the GP contract mean for general practice?
General practice is required to:

Identify all patients aged 65 and over who may be living with moderate or severe frailty;
For patients identified as living with severe frailty (around 3% of over 65s), undertake an annual medicines review, a falls risk assessment, if clinically appropriate, and promotion of the enriched Summary Care Record (SCR);
For patients identified as living with moderate frailty (around 12% of over 65s), consider undertaking a medicines review, a falls risk assessment if clinically appropriate, and promotion of the enriched SCR"

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/older-people/frailty/efi/#what-does-the-new-frailty-identification-requirement-in-the-gp-contract-mean-for-general-practice

The guidelines emphasise that it's not a diagnostic tool, but to identify risk (if that makes sense).

It's to screen all patients over 65 for risk of falls, etc. and then to diagnose individual cases. It couldn't be used on its own for eligibility of disability benefits.

It's calculated by adding up risk factors already on the patient's record plus some additional screening questions.

growstuff Thu 29-Aug-24 11:06:18

More information about the electronic frailty index:

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/older-people/frailty/frailty-risk-identification/#:~:text=This%20can%20be%20done%20using,mild%2C%20moderate%20or%20severe%20frailty.

The theory is that it identifies people who are in need of some intervention.

growstuff Thu 29-Aug-24 11:13:05

More info on frailty from the NHS. Page 13 has the frailty scale, so posters can assess themselves, if interested:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/toolkit-general-practice-frailty-1.pdf

Gransthebest Thu 29-Aug-24 13:23:19

Thankyou for the information.Im going to check my GP and see if this has been done for me.

Junoesque Thu 29-Aug-24 18:39:44

Well done Pammiel, had a similar experience with the NHS
Patient Record site/app. It’s either not kept up to date or completely inaccurate, patient care is being watered down so much and being left to very junior inexperienced staff which borders on dangerous. Grateful thanks to you for reminding us of the implications regarding the Data Protection Act have saved that one. If we don’t stand up for ourselves who will??

biglouis Fri 30-Aug-24 09:23:29

I dont often agree with @Growstuff but on this occasion I do!

I am not one of those people who is constantly wanting GP and hospital appointments, In fact I avoid them like the plague. Some of you may have noticed that I almost never post on "health" threads unless there is one where I feel I have directly relevent advice to give.

I had a series of HCP coming out without any appointmen or warning to take blood samples, do blood pressure etc. On one occasion one arrived while I had a visitor and it was inconvenient. What was supposed to be a "quick flick" took 20 minutes. I contacted the practice manager via their website (they have a facility to make an administrative request) and left an instruction that ALL appoinments must be pre-notified by text with an option to cancel or re-schedule.

They have not pestered me since.

biglouis Fri 30-Aug-24 09:25:16

Having said the above I have several times sent an "administrative note" to have entries on my medical notes altered.