Why does the NHS keep shooting itself in the foot.

twaddle

Allira

twaddle

How many cases do you think there are in a year?

I bet there aren't many compared with clerical errors.

Even one is one too many when wrongly employed in a medical profession.

I agree that even one is too many, but the poster wrote "What really bugs me about the NHS is how they still appoint people (usually from other countries) who are not qualified to do the job." That implies that it happens quite frequently and is a massive problem. It doesn't seem relevant to a discussion about clerical inefficiency.

It is relevant as clerical inefficiency and poor background checks are surely responsible for so many bogus people getting jobs in the NHS.

This bogus psychiatrist got away with it for 22 YEARS!!

cfa.nhs.uk/about-nhscfa/latest-news/court-orders-fake-psychiatrist-to-pay-back-NHS-money

Allira

twaddle

How many cases do you think there are in a year?

I bet there aren't many compared with clerical errors.

Even one is one too many when wrongly employed in a medical profession.

I agree that even one is too many, but the poster wrote "What really bugs me about the NHS is how they still appoint people (usually from other countries) who are not qualified to do the job." That implies that it happens quite frequently and is a massive problem. It doesn't seem relevant to a discussion about clerical inefficiency.

twaddle

How many cases do you think there are in a year?

I bet there aren't many compared with clerical errors.

Even one is one too many when wrongly employed in a medical profession.

silverlining48

I have never heard of Mychart. Seems I need to prepare myself for another frustrating system which brings ever more stress.

I don't find it at all frustrating. My personal experience has been that it improves communication and makes information readily available. Today, for example, I used it to ask one of the departments treating me a question. It wasn't urgent, but I received a reply from a specialist nurse within a couple of hours and she has recommended further action. An appointment has been made for me. In the past, the notes from appointments have been made available immediately and any further treatment has been actioned.

However, as I wrote, I do know people who have found it less useful. When you delve a bit deeper, it's been because the staff at the hospital in certain departments don't use it consistently/effectively. They don't always enter appointment notes or follow up on test results - or forget to enter further actions on to the system.

I have never heard of Mychart. Seems I need to prepare myself for another frustrating system which brings ever more stress.

I very much appreciate having a dedicated cancer nurse system here. If you have any queries, doubts or difficulties to do with any treatments you can give them a call. If they’re not available leave a message and they get back to you.

There is nothing like being able to talk in person to a professional. Our doctor uses an email online system as well as a receptionist service but it generally works better with the online triage system.

I do have the NHS app but it’s useful as a backup as it’s send you copies of letters. Just now Royal Mail is c**p! But that’s another story

How many cases do you think there are in a year?

I bet there aren't many compared with clerical errors.

It's astonishing how this happens from time to time.
I know of a case personally from many years ago, Primrose.

Perhaps they have cleverly forged documents.

I didn't realise the NHS makes a habit of employing unqualified people. Whoever employed this woman without checks should be sacked, but thank goodness she was only employed for nine days because other staff realised something wasn't right.

What really bugs me about the NHS is how they still appoint people (usually from other countries) who are not qualified to do the job.

This morning we read of a Nigerian woman who lied on her application form but was appointed as a Dietician at Manchester Royal Infirmary. She did not even know basic anatomy yet was supposed to be treating very ill people like cancer patients.

She has been struck off but should never have been given the job in the first place. This has been going on for years and years but STILL people are able to fool Health Authorities and interviewers.

M0nica

As with any system, it is only as good as the human input.

Yes. Systems engineers need to ensure that users do complete all boxes, but it's difficult if people don't follow procedures or haven't been trained properly.

As with any system, it is only as good as the human input.

One of the issues with systems like MyChart is that every member of staff must be trained to use it. That means that there must be induction for every new member of staff - even the most temporary ones. Unfortunately, if a department has a high staff turnover, the initial induction is inadequate.

My experience of MyChart is that it has worked well, but I do have friends who have had problems, but with a different department.

Staff have to remember click the button so reports are shared. They need to give patients access to contact with certain people. They need to block out if they are not going to be available, etc. The beauty of the system is that it should take care of any consequences automatically, but only if the correct data has been input. If a doctor says that a certain test is needed after six months, the system will find an appointment and inform the patient, but only if the doctor has instructed the system to take that action.

About lack of contact with a real human being- I developed Polymyalgia rheumatica during Covid. I diagnosed myself from Google then rang the surgery.
I had the condition and was taking prednisolone for two years, a powerful drug with many bad side effects. I never saw a doctor at any point until right at the end, to check if I was relapsing.
I still wonder if Ihave now got osteoporosis or any of the other effects of steroids. Nobody ever asked or checked.
Broken Britain, broken NHS. A deliberate intention of the Tory government.

I read on Facebook that there is going to be a new system for referrals in April which will cut waiting lists but make it more difficult to get one. Does anyone know about it?

Astitchintime No one has actually told me which department is involved, although I am pretty sure I know.

My 88 year old friend had a routine appointment for bloods two weeks ago.
She was asked by her surgery to go along last Friday to discuss the results.
She had already read the results herself on the NHS app which her D had installed for her.
When during the appointment she mentioned two things which had concerned her, her GP told her she had no business to be reading that and if he wasn’t worried then she shouldn’t be.
What is the point of the app if we are not supposed to access it?

I would have been contacting the clinic just after 3pm to enquire what was happening. Fair enough, the consultant may have been called into theatres to attend to an emergency but that surely wouldn’t stop an administration clerk from phoning the patients waiting for calls would it?
Communication is a wonderful thing when conducted two ways……..doesn’t work otherwise.

My partner is currently on the phone to our medical centre because someone knocked on his door yesterday to say that he had been given his blood thinners by mistake. The poor man was crippled with arthritis and had hobbled to his house to deliver them. This is on top of prescriptions never being ready. The place has gone to pieces.

Should add, staff at both procedures were absolutely brilliant.

I am not sure if this is the fault of NHS admin or Royal Mail but today, Thursday, received a letter telling me that because of unclear results on my colonoscopy I need a flexible sigmoidoscopy. I had the sigmoidoscopy last Thursday.

The problem is everything from first contact with the NHS through diagnosis, treatmetn etc can all be done without the patient at any point having any contact with a real human.

twiglet77

I recently had a message in MyChart to make an appointment for an X-ray, which my GP had requested. I spent 20 minutes going round in circles on MyChart until giving up and ringing to make the appointment instead. I got the impression that it’s not unusual. I’m with Addenbrooke’s too.

That's not my experience at all. However, I have a feeling that some departments at Addenbrookes are more efficient than others.

M0nica

mae13

I assume that 'MyChart' is some fancy incarnation of AI?

These hospital administration systems do love wasting funds on fancy digital doo-dahs. But they don't seem to work.

But they STILL insist on posting appointments using Royal Mail, which also doesn't work........you may as well give up before you start.

MyChart is a computer programme that works 'mechanically' All your test results are posted on your page, plus information about appointments etc. Certainly no AI involvement. Sometimes wonder if intelligence of any kind was involved it.

MyChart usually works well. Is there a facility on your account to contact the department dealing with you? One can usually send a message and somebody will get back to you.

Allira

It's no good being ill and unable to cope if you need to negotiate the NHS.

Yes, our surgery expect us to do the leg work.
I now just ring gynaecologist secretary when I need my six monthly Botox procedure.
I don’t even bother going through our surgery.