The current hospital / A&E crisis

Cluedo Monopoly

https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1611359316350574592

The government are definitely in deflection mode.

Chiparus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120082532#Comment_120082532

Amazing he only does 3.5 days- missing on all that private work. Is it a single handed GP practice?

Atlantic Dawn

How does someone in their 70's go to hospital and end up on a trolley for 50+ hours? They shouldn't have been going to a hospital in the first place if they lasted that long with zero care.

Cordell

Being on a trolley doesn't mean they were without care, it usually means they were seen by the doctors and admitted but there were no proper beds available. If they actually were there for 50 hours without care then this is criminal level of bad healthcare.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120084301#Comment_120084301

Who suggested zero care?

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120084301#Comment_120084301

Do you honestly think the doctors and nurses are not caring for the person? if they are on a trolley it means they don't have a room not that the HSE staff are not looking after them as best they can.

That is a terrible insult to the hard working people of the HSE, didn't take long for the people out with the faux clapping during covid to quickly turn their back on the doctors and nurses.

Cordell

Years ago I brought someone with a stroke to the A&E, they were seen quick enough, they got some medication immediately and they were seen by a consultant in maybe 2h. Then they spent a day on a trolley but they were fully cared for. The investigations were top class, they got xray CT scan and some vascular ultrasound all in one day. Fortunately they fully recovered.

Floppybits

This beds crisis in the hospitals wouldn't be an issue if the powers that be involved had of increased capacity in the hospitals inline with the increase in population and includes beds and staff on the frontline. They haven't done that and now we have been seeing the consequences of this lack of foresight with no just the Trolley crisis and A&E wait times but also staff leaving to work in better healthcare systems.

It seems in this country that we don't tackle problems early, try and nip it in the bub, but let them grow and grow until the become a crisis and then we end up flapping around to try and fix the problem. Same is happening with the Gardai with more people leaving than joining and I am sure there are other areas in Public Services with the same problems, it begs the question is there any planning going on and if there is then what is blocking the plans from being implemented? What are all these highly paid people in management in the Public services doing?

maninasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120070603#Comment_120070603

Given that a GP job is probably as cushy as it gets for docs, why aren't more entering the profession ?

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120081045#Comment_120081045

It is wrong because it will deter the people who need to go see a GP or go to A&E from going and could result in them suffering a serious illness. The thing is that if someone goes to see a GP and the GP thinks it serious enough to send them to A&E then they should go to A&E, if it wasn't serious enough but the person still needs to see a specialist then the GP will send off a letter requesting an appointment with the specialist in that area. If people are attending A&E and it is not serious then the consequence of that is they are going to be waiting a long time in A&E so if they are prepared to do it then that's their decision. People who have been through A&E and deemed serious enough to be admitted but are on a trolley because of bed capacity is another issue.

The issue as has been discussed on this thread is that there are no services that the public can go too except A&E. We have to get away from A&E being the dumping ground for everything medical and even mental conditions in this country.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085313#Comment_120085313

What makes you think that ?

GP would be recognised as a highly stressful job

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085317#Comment_120085317

I take your point but in here now there are major issues. I agree that we need to get away A & E being the dumping ground. There are HUGE HUGE issues with GP appointments in certain parts of the country which is contributing to the problems in A & E. I have outlined many times in this thread that in my GP practice ( and many others), that if I am unwell today and ring my GP I will be given an appointment for some day next week - now that isnt much use to me if Im unwell now is it. So by the time that appointment comes around I am either better, worse, in hospital or dead. So if I really need medical attention my only options are to ring out of hours doctor service who is also under huge pressure given that nobody can get timely GP appointments in my area ( so this service is really of no use either). So my only option may be to go to A & E with an issue that probably could be dealt with by a GP thus clogging up A & E - So do you see the issue. The fact is I know people that had to attend A & E just to get prescribed anti biotics because they have no access to their GP.

Do you think it is reasonable that sick people cant actually get to see a GP? Do you think this is a good service?

The fact is that GPs do need help to deal with the problems they are facing - they are under huge pressure and cannot cope with the demand for their services. Do you honestly think GPs don't deal with timewasters and that every appointment is completely necessary? What is your solution?

maninasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085338#Comment_120085338

Compared to hospital jobs would seem not to be.

Also part-time GP would be a stressful job?

Many don't do out calls. Don't do weekends. Don't do night shifts.

redlough

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085489#Comment_120085489

Ahh they are all doing a few hours a week and then driving to their mansion in their BMW's 😂

You have no idea how stressful a GP job is, neither do I because I am not a GP. People love to go around telling everyone how stressful a job they have and how XYZ has it easy.

If a GP is such an easy job then train yourself up and become one.

Floppybits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085442#Comment_120085442

I am in the same boat, if I call the doctor for an appointment today I could be told it could be Thursday or Friday before I get to see them, so I understand the frustration. Even worse I am trying to get my daughter transferred to my and my wifes doctor and they said that is fine but it can't happen until the other GP transfers the records and god knows when that will be so trying to get an appointment for my daughter will be a nightmare. Before 2019 I could rock up to the surgery and I could wait to see the Dr now it is appointments only, which I don't mind. That still doesn't mean that people are told not to go see a GP or go to A&E unless absolutely necessary, who is to decide that? People go to see a Dr or to A&E if they are worried about something and need the reassurance that its not too serious but especially with cancers, which can start off as something small but if not treated early can escalate quickly and then as others have mentioned this causes further problems down the road in terms of accessing treatments. I know in the case of my father, he thought he had a stomach bug and didn't think he needed to go see a dr but it took the rest of my family to convince him to go to the Dr who said it was a stomach bug and gave him some tablets but it persisted, he went back and seen a standin Dr who sent him straight to A&E where he had to sit in a chair to be seen while destroying him and it turned out it was bowel cancer and weeks later he died. I'm not saying he would have survived if he went earlier but his life leading up to that point would have been a lot more comfortable if he had of gone sooner.

As I said I blame the government and by the government I don't mean just the politicians, even though they are a large part of the blame, but I include Public servants in that including those in the department of Health and the Management of the HSE. They have a huge budget but it seems as with a lot of public services in this country that the front line services are drip fed the money and have to fight for every penny while further up the chain there doesn't seem to be a problem. We need to make sure the money goes to front end services and not sucked up along way that when it does get to the services there are only pennies left.

maninasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120085847#Comment_120085847

If you dont know how stressful it is why are you telling me it is super stressful?

It seems it would be a lot less stressful than most healtcare staff in the hospitals doing shifts and weekends.

Goldengirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086073#Comment_120086073

In that regard yes. But they have to manage their usual busy practices and are solely responsible for their patients ie noone to hand over to, except refer to casualty or consultants.

But in the meantime they are the first port of call. And unless they are very irresponsible, which I think you will find they don't usually go into the job if they are, they would be worried about patients and trying to see as many as possible.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086525#Comment_120086525

The receptionists do much of that worrying for them, effectively triaging patients. I could honestly say my own GP in the practice would be one to do a lot of worrying, but not the other part-timers who seem perpetually disinterested in their job. There’s always hushed whispering in the waiting room about them, and everyone wishing they could have got an appointment with the one with empathy.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086549#Comment_120086549

Nothing worse - my old GP practice was like that. Told them that was the reason I changed - being medically assessed by a receptionist never sat well with me. Like If I tell you I need to urgently need to see a DR take my word for it. I don't use the word urgent lightly.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120084438#Comment_120084438

There was the case in UL of a man who spoke on one of the radio 1 programs about his experience of having been admitted with a major flare up of IBD for which the definitive rescue treatment is IV steroids along with other medications. It was 3 days before a GI consultant got to order those, so he may as well have been at home in his own bed near his own bathroom for that time.

I’ve been hearing that some people are just not being treated whilst occupying the bed/trolley, pending consultation with a specialist in the appropriate area of care.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086557#Comment_120086557

Have you any idea how many people believe their need is more urgent than others? If your need is indeed urgent, would you like having to wait because someone else with a minor ailment also thinks they need an urgent appointment and got seen before you?

RavenBea17b

On top of the critical situation in our hospitals, our medics, carers, paramedics/ ambulance teams, anyone trying to help themselves fight off winter bugs, flu type symptoms, norovirus etc, trying not to get to the situation to see a GP/A&E, the HPRA/HSE issued a publication that mentions 216 medicines have a shortfall, due usual demand is up, some of these are over the counter medicines. We are being asked not to stockpile etc.

BrianD3

Just watching the news there - the measures that they are putting in place to reduce numbers on trolleys do appear to be working - for that particular problem, on this occasion. But they are also give clues to why things are so shambolic. First, we have a report that "the HSE is visiting the hospitals". Eh, the HSE and hospitals are (or should be) the same thing. This sounds like spin from HSE senior management trying to deflect responsibility and claim credit as they swoop down from "headquarters" to show the hospitals the error of their ways..

Secondly, the representative from Nursing Homes Ireland was on saying that there is spare capacity for discharges in nursing homes. Vested interest alert. The nursing homes smell money here and have now provided a solution of sorts to the HSE, are we now going to get people discharged to nursing homes instead of getting to go home with a homecare package because the HSE is in a flap and latching onto any solution that is put forward. Also, given what happened at the start of covid, what's infection control like in these nursing homes, have they enough PPE now or will they again want the state to provide it. They've already been looking for more money under the Fair Deal scheme, crying about energy costs and threatening to close unless they are paid more.

Next one is related - the news that there are more discharges happening at weekends due to consultants coming in and other measures. Great, now where are these patients being discharged to.

Also, if increased weekend discharges do alleviate overcrowding why has the HSE waited until now to implement this. The health service has been in crisis for 20+ years, is it only now that it has gotten crisisey enough to increase weekend discharges?

.

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kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086995#Comment_120086995

It's been comical watching the carry-on with vested interests politicians unions etc the last while

Doc07

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120082532#Comment_120082532

Does your GP see all the pts himself? No other GP as well as nurse and secretary to be paid from that 300k? And also I’m not sure what magic genie bottle gives out grants to pay for other GPS and nurses and rent.

Consultants in some specialities have tended not to work many weekends. Case in point from as far back as noughties when my mother was still alive. She was admitted to hospital for a vertebral collapse, and was very keen to get back home before the weekend was out. They said they believed she was well ready for discharge but that her assigned consultant didn’t work weekends and she would have to wait until Monday. My mother was a string believer in staying out of hospital unless there’s no other option and announced she was discharging herself, which she did. They agreed they couldn’t stop her leaving, and she asked me to collect her which I did. I was able to look after her at home before going back to work on Monday and she was 100% fine, no bother on her at all.

thomas 123

maybe hire some nurses then to ask me my personal medical details,

I don’t like my neighbors asking me why I urgently need to see my general practitioner.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120087878#Comment_120087878

Medical secretaries follow protocols laid out by the GP for booking appointments, she doesn’t care what your ailment is, you are probably one of thousands of patients she will answer the phone to each year. If you don’t want to say why you need an urgent appointment, I don’t see why your need can be considered more urgent than anyone else’s.

What difference does it make if it’s a nurse? Both are bound by patient confidentiality, neither is taking the place of the GP when answering the phone.

Gatling

What was the story this morning with the announcement several hundred patients had been discharged, but had no where to go.?

They're closing Navan A+E despite the fact thousands of new houses have been and are still been built in the area.

Now people in Navan are getting brought by ambulance to Drogheda to be triaged and often sent back to Navan...

It's scandalous.