How to convert the NHS into a (Dutch-style) National Health and Social Service Key Points The NHS is performing poorly – in almost all parts of its work, despite record levels of funding. Minor change will no longer make any difference More money, staff and beds will make no difference. CKDEx proposes a depoliticised Dutch-style […]
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What is the 4 hour Accident and Emergency (A&E) target? Known as ‘4 Hours’, this is one of the NHS’s key performance indicators. It is a daily reflection of whole system flow, health and social care. It states 95% of emergency patients should be seen, treated if necessary, and either discharged or admitted, within four […]
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What is the 18-week pathway referral (or Referral-to-Treatment, RTT)? An 18-week pathway referral (Referral-to-Treatment, RTT) is for non-urgent treatment, i.e. from your GP (or other health professional such as physiotherapist) to a hospital consultant. The maximum waiting time is 18 weeks from the day your hospital (or service) receives the referral – either cyber or by letter. This is a key […]
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What is a NHS 2-week wait (2WW) cancer referral? In England, there is a ‘2-week cancer wait’ (2WW) referral. This is used especially if you have ‘red flag symptoms’ (Cancer – Signs and symptoms – NHS (www.nhs.uk). This is an urgent referral system that means that you should see a hospital specialist within 2 weeks of the referral from […]
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What are the 31 and 62 day NHS cancer targets? As well as the 2-week cancer wait referral (that sets the standards for the initial assessment .. though it is being replaced by a 4 week target), there are two other key NHS targets that apply to cancer. 31 day (treatment plan) target There should […]
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Should I change my GP if I move to a new area? Yes. If you move to a different area of the country, please inform your GP (and local hospital) of your new address. You will need to register with a new GP, and your old surgery will pass your records on. You may also […]
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How many beds are there in the NHS? “We don’t know. Sorry” [MyHSN Ed] “What do you mean you ‘don’t know’?” “Well we don’t, do you know?” “No!! That’s why I’m asking .. its not good enough (we said we were sorry) .. grhhh!” OK OK. What do we know? It was about 135,000 beds […]
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What happens I am admitted to hospital? This article describes the average unplanned (emergency) A&E or planned (elective) admission (e.g. for an operation). The average length of stay is 6-7 days. This page is an alphabetical list of things that happen when you are admitted to hospital for that period. No one likes being in hospital but there […]
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When should I ring a ward? 4-6pm. Why? When your loved one is in hospital, you will quite naturally be concerned, principally about three things: How are they? Whats wrong with them and is the treatment working? When are they coming home? But on almost all wards, there is a ‘ward round’ in the morning – when the doctors […]
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What is a hospital social worker? A hospital social worker is a professional who can help patients and their carer with their social care needs. ‘Social care’ is a broad term that means different types of services for children, adults and older people. All need help from others with their social situation or care needs – to help them […]
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