Sunday, 9 August 2009
once more into the breach...
2 years on and the government target as set continues to create tension across the full spectrum of hospital staff. Granted the four hour target intially improved the patients journey from ED to admission or discharge,but the creation of the rubber walled( I Can't make a fucking Decision Unit) stalled the medical decisions further. Doctors become ever more junior ( or am I getting old), and consultants seem more grumpy. Whilst the public refuse to take responsibility for there own health,and rock up in ED at 04.00 with a long standing or minor problem, our resources will never be enough. Friday clinical management meetings regularly hilight the expected crap bed state by Sunday night.Then most of them toddle off home for the weekend. Monday morning,the post mortem begins.What a surprise- ED was BUSY on a hot,school holiday weekend!! No shit sherlock!! There.Now I feel better. Nothing like a bloody good moan!! I am sure it is the same country wide,but wouldn't it be nice to think that there is an end in sight?
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Big brother is watching!!
I nearly choked on my Weetabix on Thursday whilst watching breakfast news. Science Minister Malcolm Wicks has suggested "tagging" Alzheimers sufferers.
Instantly, the mental image of an audible alarm sounding, complete with recorded message as the unfortunate person entered say, an A&E dept, or airport security area.You know, similar to the recorded message in a certain book/stationers shop telling the shopper (and the rest of the world) that you're a possible thief.
Only this time the message would say " you appear to have strayed from your secure accomodation, please return to customer service for help and advice".
But of of course ,depending on the severity of the sufferer, this message will have no effect whatsoever. I can imagine the patient looking around for the source of the voice -bit like the "pigs in space" voiceover in the Muppet Show.
Whatever next? Barcoded patients? A discreet barcode tattooed on the back of the neck AT BIRTH- no need for ID cards. Zapped on entrance to hospital it would instant assessment for frequent attenders in A&E- even include an expiry date.
However, it would be unfortunate that when the inevitable computer crash occurs, your barcode could show you as a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes.
Heaven help us if Connecting for Health ever gets implemented.
Instantly, the mental image of an audible alarm sounding, complete with recorded message as the unfortunate person entered say, an A&E dept, or airport security area.You know, similar to the recorded message in a certain book/stationers shop telling the shopper (and the rest of the world) that you're a possible thief.
Only this time the message would say " you appear to have strayed from your secure accomodation, please return to customer service for help and advice".
But of of course ,depending on the severity of the sufferer, this message will have no effect whatsoever. I can imagine the patient looking around for the source of the voice -bit like the "pigs in space" voiceover in the Muppet Show.
Whatever next? Barcoded patients? A discreet barcode tattooed on the back of the neck AT BIRTH- no need for ID cards. Zapped on entrance to hospital it would instant assessment for frequent attenders in A&E- even include an expiry date.
However, it would be unfortunate that when the inevitable computer crash occurs, your barcode could show you as a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes.
Heaven help us if Connecting for Health ever gets implemented.
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