Why does the NHS keep shooting itself in the foot.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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