SilverFox2
Well-Known Member
Thanks for reply.I doubt there are any (large) countrywide fully and completely integrated systems hooking up patient data and every piece of equipment in hospitals anywhere.
Blair’s NPfIT was a great idea, but hopelessly managed and leeched to death by IT and management consultants, which left the NHS with more IT software... but even more unintegrated kit.
Getting a system to talk 2 ways to a different system, is the issue. Unless it’s stipulated in the contract that the supplier needs to provide ongoing integration support (cheaply) then nowt will change
I ask because I live in Spain where there is a functional computer system that works.
I agree that our Andalucian system is not nationwide because medical areas are individual cost centres by large geographical areas our own as big as England.
The result is that blood tests are available to GPs within 2 days, xrays at hospital on computer within 30 mins, colonoscopy procedures followed and visual findings given to patient in written form complete with several photos within 30 mins..
Medical appointments for GP within 2 days, prescriptions only available via a card entitlement that pharmacists must use with repeats for definite maximum periods.Local Medical Centre has no receptionists so mobiles used for appointment times that both Doctor and Nurse observe and simply call your name. Blood tests done on wednesdays from 8 until 11am by Nurse again by appointment times. Anything urgent direct to blood test area at local hospital with printoff of requirements in patients hand which is also procedure for wednesday blood tests.
Printouts of say blood test results a patient entitlement with for instance psa results maxing at a low 3. Above that figure automatic referal to hospital for usual check then biopsy then surgery or radiotherapy then usual 6 month appointments with full blood tests.
As a pensioner I pay for prescriptions but get a massive discount which also applies to my wife who is younger than me.
Can only relay my own experiences, perhaps I have been lucky but no need for waiting for letters for results, there is almost immediate computer posting of results and hospital appointment times via sms or telephone. Dare I say.any delay from any department is immediately obvious so all are made accountable.
Current European Card allows emergency treatment for free with same entitlement as Spanish but they strictly insist that if diagnosis needs further treatment then payment must be made or return to country of origin with the usual treatment records and findings handed to the patient.
No idea what the rest of Spain is like but I am very impressed by the Andalucian model which gets things done efficiently.
I'm sure the actual treatment is no better or worse than UK but it seems to serve the patient rather than allow its own internal possibly inefficient procedures to define its ability to cope.