BLOGS
17/08/11 Trusting the trusts
Hospitals are quick to protest that correct action is being undertaken, regardless of the correct forms be- ing filled out. News that certain trusts are failing to comply with mandatory safety alerts demon- strates this phenomenon.
If they do not get this action au- thenticated and approved through the relevant channels, there is no way for health organisations, or the public, to be sure that the proper safety precautions are be- ing instigated.
This is not very reassuring for pa- tients.
Yet obviously responding to these alerts is more important than doc- umenting the fact. The amount of paperwork and bureaucracy that hospitals have to deal with must surely get in the way of the stuff that actually saves lives and pro- tects patients.
Then again, without documenta- tion, we can never tell whether these hospitals are just too busy to report their action, or are covering up their failure to respond prop- erly to these alerts.
22/08/11 Our cup runneth over
Britain has always been known for our binge drinking culture, and our lack of control when it comes to inebriation.
Yet children being treated in A&E for the effects of alcohol reflects a se- rious consequence of these attitudes.
If younger and younger people are motivated into trying alcohol by the people around them, and the media they are constantly faced with, they will find it increasingly easy to access.
Even with this, the public and pro- fessionals prefer different options, with the one backed by NHS trusts almost certain to prevail. If public
As well as older people refusing to buy alcohol on behalf of children, we need to take more responsibil- ity for looking after those who look up to us. If adults set a better ex- ample, there will be fewer people in hospital needing treatment, old or young.
24/08/11 Listen closely
The scale of responses to the consultation deciding which chil- dren’s heart surgery centres must stop operating has been phenom- enal. With 75,000 people choosing options, adding comments, and petitioning, this is the largest pub- lic consultation ever conducted by the NHS.
The answers also showed a depth of understanding from the public that is often assumed missing by professionals within the NHS. Al- most half recognised the need to change and supported the reor- ganisation of child heart surgery.
Yet they may simply be aware that their opinions on whether certain surgeries should be shut no longer matter. With Oxford closed and Leeds and Royal Brompton soon to follow, the one choice they re- ally had was between Southamp- ton or Leicester: a choice on which they are clamouring to be heard.
opinion is essentially relegated to background noise, this could re- main the largest response the NHS will ever see.
02/09/11 Quantity and quality
The trial to pay dentists by health outcomes per patient, rather than just per treatment, is aimed at improving access and promoting more preventative dental treat- ments.
Indeed, this could motivate den- tists to deliver better standards of care and to try to minimise the amount of treatments each patient needs, rather than being rewarded for the number of these treatments they perform.
It could be argued that this may result in dentists paying less at- tention and care to each patient, as they will aim to collect as many as possible in order to make more money.
Yet the pay will also depend on the health results of any treatments they provide, which should ensure that quality as well as quantity is considered.
This could be a very successful way of guaranteeing service and care by aligning dentist’s aims with those of the patients.
12/09/11 Care for the caregivers
There is an important difference between absenteeism and leave due to illness, yet the two are both being targeted by the NHS to achieve necessary efficiency sav- ings.
Staff judged to be failing to main- tain attendance at work will be punished.
It is true that encouraging people
to attend work will save money and ensure care is provided at all times. No doubt there are many absences that could have been avoided, and tightening policies to restrict this are beneficial to both the patient and the larger NHS.
But pressure on staff to work when they are legitimately ill could be putting patients at risk, result in poorer quality of work on those days, as well as damaging NHS staff.
To ensure the best care for the pa- tient, the staff delivering that care must be able to do so. There is a balance to be struck between en- suring people turn up to work and maintaining the high standard of care that patients deserve.
26/09/11 Proceed with caution
The call for European regulations on clinical trials to be reformed should be treated carefully.
Of course the more trials we run, the more research we can gen- erate, including potential treat- ments. Reforms could also cut costs and time to undertake the trials, resulting in more partici- pants and thus more progress.
But the line of protecting patient safety is a tricky one to walk. Reg- ulations must be tough to ensure standards are upheld, and repu- tation within the scientific world should not be prioritised over the needs of vulnerable people.
Then again, the main aim of this research is to improve healthcare for the patient, meaning that re- form could be the best course of action.
Any changes should be considered with caution, but neither should caution be used as a reason not to act.
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national health executive Sep/Oct 11 | 13
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