How are doctors paid in the UK? Different types of NHS doctor are paid in different ways. GPs GPs are self-employed and most are paid by the number of patients registered on their list – through a ‘General Medical Services (GMS)’ contract. The numbers are submitted to NHS England four times a year. Under the […]
Read MoreHow to get discharged from hospital and not readmitted 5 things need to be done to carry out an effective discharge – from your (and the hospital’s) point of view: Medication Discharge summary Transport and preparing home Follow-up Feedback. Remember. You have the right to discharge yourself from hospital at any time during your stay in hospital. We will […]
Read MoreA typical day in the NHS (and how much it costs) The NHS is big, really big. “Space [or the NHS!] is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist, but that’s just […]
Read MoreAcute vs chronic illness – what is the difference? Time. That is the short answer. Doctors often categorise medical conditions as ‘acute’ and ‘chronic’. They also use phrases like ‘subacute’ and ‘recurrent’. But what do these terms mean? There is no agreed definition of any of them; but the following is often stated. Acute Definition […]
Read MoreHow much do NHS consultants (senior doctors) earn in UK? £94,000-126,000 per year. Quite a lot actually. But the average is £143,000 (with bonuses and other payments). Here is more information on UK doctors salaries from the Nuffield Trust (2023). The most senior doctors in a hospital are called hospital consultants in the UK. In […]
Read MoreJammed NHS hospitals – five problems and solutions In the UK, there were 7.46 million people waiting for an operation (procedure or treatment) in December 2024. This is over 10% of the population. Also, the corridors in our A&E departments are full of the frail elderly on trolleys waiting for a bed. Ambulances cannot pick up […]
Read MoreA new NHS for a new age: let’s go Dutch Many people are critical of the NHS at present. But few have put forward any workable suggestions to improve it. The Netherlands has arguably one of the best healthcare systems in the world. So it useful to look at it (and other similar systems) to […]
Read MoreMedical history: 10 best questions “Listen to your patient, he is telling you the diagnosis”. Dr William Osler (1849-1919) .. and 80% of the diagnosis is in the medical history. Full stop. The history is vital. Why? 80% of the diagnosis is in the history (10% examination, 10% tests) – so its your key diagnostic weapon. […]
Read MoreHow to help yourself get discharged from hospital Wear your own clothes. That is our best Top Tip. More of that later. Remember a hospital is not a prison and you can discharge yourself anytime. But it’s best to do it with the doctors and nurses agreement. Most stays are 6-7 days, or less. No one likes being in […]
Read More5 ways of seeing a GP quicker In this article we will describe how to get seen faster by a GP. 1. Be polite, persistent, and patient (the ‘3 Ps’) – and use the right words Call up as soon as the appointments line becomes free. Be prepared to wait in a queue and be […]
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