More chaotic/time-wasting NHS admin

I think they want people to miss their appointments so they can sign them off

crazyH

I find these complaints about the NHS rather tedious.. Just be glad we have one. Yes, you may have to wait a few months for a routine operation. My friend who had an urgent heart condition, was rushed to a top London hospital, because there were neither beds nor expertise, in the local hospital. His life was saved. Try living in a country, where your survival depends on your wealth

My problem is that many problems would not be serious if they had been dealt with in a timely manner. This is certainly true of my DH who had been to see a GP three times before a locum recognised that he had a very serious heart problem. The first person he saw was a young trainee GP so, perhaps, she could be given some benefit of the doubt. But the second was an older doctor with many years experience who had no excuse at all. She is known locally as "Dr Death" and was eventually forced to take early retirement, my husband's treatment was possibly part of the reason. Certainly our care at that practice in later years was absolutely meticulous, apparently they were afraid we would sue them.

My daughter missed out on a chance to try a trial for her cancer, when all other options weren't viable, due to mismanaged admin between her hospital and the Marsden.

JaneJudge

I think they want people to miss their appointments so they can sign them off

They certainly threatened my husband with that.

My DH was called for a range of cardiac tests which rather surprised him. After the last one, they asked if a date had been set for his heart bypass operation. For atrial fibrillation he asked?
He was not the patient they were meant to invite for tests!

cc

JaneJudge

I think they want people to miss their appointments so they can sign them off

They certainly threatened my husband with that.

it has happened with my dd more than once, same department. They've even lied about calling me

MissAdventure

My daughter missed out on a chance to try a trial for her cancer, when all other options weren't viable, due to mismanaged admin between her hospital and the Marsden.

that is just utterly heart breaking

"So why the hell are letters still being sent out with the wrong number? If they don’t want the expense of re-printing, can’t someone cross it out and write in the correct one?"
Because that would have far too easy Witzend!
I recently had an issue with my medication request and a simple message on each item that I requested was missed - I phoned the surgery to make enquiries as to why the messages were missed only to be told by the receptionist "I don't know, that's not my job"! I was absolutely furious to say the least.

So many people simply don’t turn up to appointments, and the amount that is wasted through missed appointments far outweighs the additional cost of sending out reminder letters. I assume these are generated automatically, so the actual cost of sending them is probably pretty low. I get texts too.

I’m not sure that the letters ever actually get touched by human hand. I suspect that they are generated, printed, folded and posted automatically. But it really shouldn’t be too difficult to go into the system and make the necessary change to make sure that the right phone number is printed onto the letters.

I'm sure we are all grateful that we have the NHS. In many ways it's marvellous.
But that doesn't mean it can't be improved, especially the admin side of it. I, like others, have experienced duplicate letters, inaccurate letters and appointments etc. And most disturbing is that when I asked for a copy of my medical records recently I was surprised at the number of inaccuracies in it.
Yes, it's wonderful, but needs a good shake up and overhauling.

I was told I had missed an appointment which I had fought to get, because I genuinely felt I would die without it.

I was so, so, angry, I stood my ground, and said how DARE they try to blame me, and I wanted to know the date it was sent.

The lady on the phone then changed it to say oh, sorry, it was a meeting about you, not one you needed to attend after all.

I would advise everyone to log into the NHS app and check their GP app. I was appalled that so much of my information on the system was wrong. It said I had been seen and all test results had be discussed with me. I haven’t seen anyone and cannot get to see a HP having been told there are no appointments for the foreseeable future. Time for a change me thinks.

Sorry should be GP!

crazyH

I find these complaints about the NHS rather tedious.. Just be glad we have one. Yes, you may have to wait a few months for a routine operation. My friend who had an urgent heart condition, was rushed to a top London hospital, because there were neither beds nor expertise, in the local hospital. His life was saved. Try living in a country, where your survival depends on your wealth

I think we are now in danger of living in a country where survival depends on wealth!
Your friend was lucky. Many more people aren't that lucky and end up living in pain or their problems getting past the point where they can be treated successfully and, worse still not surviving.
Do not understand how you can be so flippant about such a serious situation.

Clacton includes Jaywick. This has been named the most deprived area in Britain(Wikipedia) 62% of people on Benefits and multiply social problems including drug abuse. It has one of the most beautiful beaches on the Sunshine Coast. Successive governments, MP’s and councils have failed to improve the lot of these people. They obviously think that Nigel Farage could be the catalyst for change for them. I hope that they are right. Maybe his friend Donald will build a world famous golf course for them????

What a pity. I was enchanted by Jaywick years ago, with those pretty little bungalows, with sand in their gardens.

The NHS has suffered badly from being a political football over the years. It was deliberately underfunded in the name of 'austerity' and has had to endure a number of sometimes pointless seeming 'reorganisations'.

However, just as a counter view. I was booked for \hip replacement op tomorrow. It has had to be postponed because the PRIVATE clinic I was booked at (for an NHS op) forgot to call me for a pre-op assessment. It's not the end of the world, but it's annoying...

I suspected Nigel Farage might have something to do with it

Before coving, we took my mum to an appointment at the hospital.

We waited, and waited, and waited.
We read the notice telling us to be patient, as we were in a queueing system for several different clinics, so people may well be seen before us.

We waited some more, and some more.

Then we saw the staff putting on their coats, and having a chat, as they turned the lights off, and began walking to the door!

JaneJudge

I think they want people to miss their appointments so they can sign them off

I like your thinking 👏👏

MissAdventure

Before coving, we took my mum to an appointment at the hospital.

We waited, and waited, and waited.
We read the notice telling us to be patient, as we were in a queueing system for several different clinics, so people may well be seen before us.

We waited some more, and some more.

Then we saw the staff putting on their coats, and having a chat, as they turned the lights off, and began walking to the door!

That’s hilarious 😂

My son with cystic fibrosis has often been on more than 20 different prescription items a month. Some from the GP, some from the hospital and others delivered every 2-3 months by private companies. Surprisingly, given the comments on here, he rarely has any issues. He's very much on top of things though and has a great CF team who really get things done. The biggest problems arise when suppliers use companies like DHL to do the deliveries as they don't seem to be able to follow their own processes properly and hundreds of pounds worth of medical supplies has been dumped on our doorstep in the rain while we were out.

There is a world of difference between admin in hospitals and admin in GP surgeries. GPs are independent contractors, they are small businesses, and are as efficient as they can be with the inability to afford enough staff. GP remuneration from the Government is their main source of income and this has decreased yeay on year, whilst the number of patients per GP has shot up dramatically. The Government has placed a limit on the number of GP training places at universities, which is crazy when so many more are needed and we shouldn't be raiding other countries' GPs because we won't train enough of our own. Overwork causes GPs to burn out, retire early, or even take their own lives. Their IT systems were developed by themselves they are incredible and are at least 20 years ahead of hospital systems. However the GP developers have largely left the companies who have got too big, have shareholders to keep happy, and the contant tweaking is no longer as easy.

Absolutely true, as an ex NHS administrator, no money for IT and most of it was antiquated when I left in 2020.