Jump to content

AGB1

Members
  • Content Count

    362
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by AGB1

  1. Everyone is right ...if you walk-in to A&E and book in via reception, you will wait in a queue to book in, then wait to be triaged. The receptionists are told to alert nursing staff to patients with shortness of breath, chest pains or those who 'look unwell' but otherwise you will wait your turn to be triaged....and then from the nurse triage you are seen in priority order by a doctor. Interestingly an A&E full of drunks and minor injuries is easy, usually quick work (for example the patient who came to A&E with a verruca, or the one I saw with a haemorrhoid). It's the older, frail patients with multiple co-morbidites who take ages to sort out, then languish in the department for hours because there are no bed who are the ones who slow everything down and mean you're waiting for ages in the waiting room. If I could change one thing, it would be empowering paramedics to be able to not bring idiots in who dial an ambulance when they don't need one.
  2. Another vote for Nibbles!!! Mmmmm. Be careful with Pisa Pizza in Crookes...they've robbed me twice and have done it to at least 3 other people I know, everytime using the same method of pretending you've given them a £10 when in fact it was a £20 and claming there's no way of checking...Grrr!
  3. Dont get me started on TV hospital dramas. I'm pretty sure the programme Casualty is responsible for increasing people's expectations of what we can actually do! The patients usually get 6 chest compressions and then 'come round' and are seen drinking a cup of tea 10 minutes later! I used to scream at the TV seeing the medical errors...so dont watch it anymore.
  4. You need a private gastro consultant/surgeon, which usually requires a referral from your nhs gp... I suppose you could see a private gp to ask for a referral to the private consultant...sounds expensive though...
  5. HIV/AIDs is the big problem. Supressed immunity by the virus and readily infected or reactivated TB. They've gone hand in hand over the past 30 years.
  6. There's even a medical name for it - 'the John Thomas sign' Further information and a picture in this article http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/xmas98/thomas/thomas.html Enjoy!
  7. Tell her not to worry. Had mine reversed 12 years ago without a single problem since. There's nothing like having to sit on a toilet again! Very common operation and she'll be in the best hands.
  8. Thank you! You've got a much higher chance of surviving a heart attack. Cardiac arrest on the other hand...if you don't get a timely electric shock then you're screwed. No real training is needed to apply the shock-box, it's recognising that someone doesn't have a pulse and knowing what to do about it, that is the real lifesaving bit.
  9. Whatever it is please can it serve good coffee during the day? No good coffee places in Crookes :-(
  10. Hmmmm...I wouldnt be too sure about that Bagger. To attain a 'trauma centre' status the NGH has to do several things. One of these is to have neurosurgery on site. Being a trauma centre means extra £££ for the trust. Only a matter of time until you move across the City, IMO.
  11. If I saw this I would call the police. Outrageous behaviour.
  12. Halibut, the only thing you're wrong about is the number. More like 95-99% of people who claim to have had their drinks spiked havent, certainly not with what they think anyway (GHB, Rohypnol or ketamine - Slaughter 2000) Other studies have shown in the majority of cases, the blood level of alcohol was significantly higher than anticipated, based on the victim's self-assessment of consumption. A Welsh study in 2006 noted that "...65% of those tested had alcohol concentrations >160 mg%..." and concluded "Most patients allegedly having had a spiked drink test negative for drugs of misuse. The symptoms are more likely to be a result of excess alcohol"(Hughes EMJ)
  13. I feel inclined to make a few comments. This is from someone who has been a member of the 'crash team' and who has attempted 100's maybe even 1000's of resuscitations. First point - hardly anyone survives a cradiac arrest in hospital. If you're young, relatively fit and have one of a few 'reversible' conditions then the odds are slightly better. If you're old, have comorbidities and your heart has stopped then the chances of you leaving hospital and having any quality of life are miniscule. Doctors know these odds. From experience this is how they put in place DNAR orders. Second point - when the 'arrest' team arrives, your relative will be on the bed/floor stripped naked in front of strangers. People will be attempting to put tubes into their windpipe, people will be attempting to put large needles into their arms/feet and probably groin. Someone will be putting their weight into your relative's chest - good CPR always breaks ribs and sometimes the sternum ( breastbone). The patient often vomits and may soil themselves during this process which will last 20 minutes or so until we stop. The nurses then come along as we all trundle off to see the devastation we have left. There is no dignity in this. The dignity comes from people being made comfortable, people having their families close by and knowing that they wont be subjected to the terror above. Everyone has to die, this is a much more dignified way to die. This is why DNAR forms are used.
  14. No. Not that you can ring up and book/request. There are side rooms, but they are generally reserved for the dying or those with MRSA/C.diff/D&V.
  15. Val d'Isere has excellent runs, never get bored of them. Main problem is the price - I know most French Alp resorts are expensive, but Val d'Isere seems to be even worse. If you're self catering, buy as much as you can in the lower towns etc, if you drink alcohol; stock up in hypermarkets and drink plenty before you go out. There are loads of good bars, some good restaurants and lots of posh people looking down their noses at you if you're not wearing Gucci ski-gear! All in all, probably one of the best resorts I've been to in Europe. Have fun you lucky thing!!
  16. When members of the public stop abusing the NHS by either not attending appointments without cancelling (15 DNAs last Friday) or attending for trvial reasons, then receptionists will be able to stop asking prying questions. If it stops one person making an emergency appointment because of the rash they've had on their little toe for 4 months then it's worthwhile. Until then I'm afraid you'll have to put up with it. It may suprise you that you do not need to see a doctor to have a flu jab etc - if no-one asks then you may end up taking up a vital resource from someone who really needs it.
  17. Its a nightmare moving hospitals every 6 months...different hospitals have different uniforms/colours for different roles. I ignore the colour and go straight for the name badge - unforunately most people seem to wear it at waist level or on their chest so I'm forever staring at crotches and bosoms.
  18. I've seen some right tosh brought to A&E over the past few days after people have called 999. Its no different to the rest of the year really, except potentially risking the crews lives in the icy conditions. I'd like to throw something out there about heroin/methadone withdrawl... its really not that bad. How many addicts die after withdrawing from heroin? None? How many alcoholics die after withdrawing from alcohol? 65% says some research (if left untreated). It may be unpleasant for a few hours going cold turkey but its certainly not life threatening.
  19. A genuine interest... what happened to the motor neurone disease Cookmonster?
  20. Please don't phone an ambulance if you're not seriously unwell...you are allowed to drive to A&E. Being brought in an ambulance doesn't get you seen any quicker nor does it make you look more unwell. Your GP is doing something about it...they referred you to specialists. A&E may do some blood tests and as ash says they *may* admit you. They might send you home too if they decide you're not too unwell.
  21. Smokers keep me in a job within the NHS...
  22. Unfortunately not much to be done at A&E...generally you'll get some co-codamol and sent on your way to ring the emergency dentist the next day. In theory doctors aren't meant to diagnose and treat dental problems, just as dentists don't treat medical problems. Saying that, you can't see a dentist in the middle of the night! Thank you for not dialling 999 as many do with toothache and then expecting a free taxi home too! Grrrr! Hope it gets sorted asap
  23. It's all about the compensation isnt it?
  24. Unfortunately the private sector can just cherry pick those patients who are low risk i.e. minor procedures, with low complication rates on young and relatively fit patients with less chances of post-operative complications. This means that although you may get seen super-quick and be really happy with the service, the crumbly 80 year old with the broken hip and heart disease still has to go to the NHS - a private hospital wouldnt touch her with a barge-pole. Expensive for the NHS. So all the easy stuff gets picked off by the private companies, they are quids in with very little risk. If any complications do arise, guess where the patient ends up? The local NHS hospital! Expensive for the NHS. It's win-win for these companies. It also means less training for junior surgeons in more simple surgery as all those cases get sent to St Elsewhere to have it done privately.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.