The NHS’s multifarious patient information leaflets are inaccurate, inconsistent, and confusing, finds Margaret McCartney, and effort is duplicated because each trust commissions its own, often from the private sector Patient information leaflets: “a stupid system” – Free link
Continue Reading →NEJM Alzheimers study: all it seems?
The study published yesterday has made the headlines across the media; ” The study they funded, led by Professor Robert Howard from the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has concluded that the drugs carry on working in people whose illness has become severe. “For the first time, […]
Continue Reading →Why I’m not a businessman
In reply to Dirk Vinegar on the Guardian, who says “It is often forgotten that GPs are not salaried NHS clones, but independent business people, most of whom happen to be contracted to the NHS for the main source of their income.” This is important to get right, because the Health Bill will make it […]
Continue Reading →Weekend death rates; confusion and hype
The Today programme have said that there is ” fresh evidence that people who are admitted to hospitals in England at weekends face a significantly increased risk of death.” 4 days ago, the Telegraph reported that Andrew Lansley had decided to fund hospitals to work 24/7 with no weekend change to staffing, and the report cites […]
Continue Reading →It ain’t over till it’s over
I’m feeling rather inspired by Clive Peedall and his plea that the Royal Colleges should come together in opposition of the Health Bill. There is good reason to think that the Colleges are now in discussion as to what to do. There is also good reason to think that this can be influenced. The BMA, the […]
Continue Reading →Read your medical records
Essentially, having access to your own medical records is a good thing. The government have made it clear that this is now a priority and intend to work to make online access for patients so that patients can freely access their own notes. However: I think as it stands it’s unlikely to be very helpful. […]
Continue Reading →Public health and Freud Communications
It is with a heavy heart that I note the Department of Health are not paying attention to the evidence. They have press released their new contract with Freud Communications, who apparently have “delivered a really exciting pitch. They have some big ideas that we believe will not only promote good health but will really change people’s […]
Continue Reading →The Health bill : lack of coverage is a bad prognosis
Health and Social Care Bill has apparently been carried. The government won with a majority of 65. Look at the ‘debate’ here – a sedate affair, with plenty of jolly laughing, a bit of sexism, and an aside about the wonders of complementary medicine thrown in. A sixth year debating society would have done better. Meantime, the […]
Continue Reading →Please don’t let the NHS die
The health bill is capable of destroying the NHS. I wish this was hyperbole. It’s not. I am in Scotland, where things are a bit more sensible. Markets were tried, with Independent Sector Treatment Sectors, but because our hospitals tend to be geographically distant, it’s not really feasible to have a competitive market based system […]
Continue Reading →Do not resuscitate – why death needs to have heart
So: Addenbrooke’s hospital are being sued for allegedly illegally using a ‘do not resuscitate order’ on a patient. The patient had allegedly expressed that she wished to be resuscitated, but apparantly the order was written anyway. Meantime, we have Iona Heath writing in the BMJ about how CPR “amounts to yet another scenario within contemporary medicine where […]
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