Manx Care Has Failed

[Beyond Belief]

Hooperman is an American comedy-drama television series which aired on ABC from September 23, 1987, to July 19, 1989. The show centred on the professional and personal life of San Francisco police Inspector Harry Hooperman.  Should have read Hooperman is an Isle of Man comedy-drama television series which aired on Isle of Man, television from September 2016. The show centred on the failings of an MHK, Lawrie Hooper and his fellow compadres in Tynwald. 

[wrighty]

2 hours ago, Declan said:

For me it sounds good in principle. But I have spoken to many people who’ve been struck off consultants lists or from the mental health service because of missed appointments. Mostly these were because of reasons connected to their conditions. 

I’ve never ‘struck off’ anyone - I sometimes wish I could. The closest I came was a patient referred urgently, for what appeared to be a routine problem, who didn’t show up. The notes indicated that they had similar form for 8 out of 9 appointments across different specialties. I wrote to the GP saying I wouldn’t be sending another appointment in place of the latest one they hadn’t bothered to attend, stating that if they need to be seen the GP would need to re-refer.  
 

As in most things the Pareto principle applies - a small proportion of patients cause a large proportion of the issues. GPs and hospital will go out of their way to see people who attend, and we understand that the admin side frequently messes up. My own approach to DNAs - I almost never say ‘send again’. No point wasting another slot, but if the patient contacts us to request another appointment we rebook. Charging £10 is pointless.  

[Passing Time]

12 minutes ago, wrighty said:

I’ve never ‘struck off’ anyone - I sometimes wish I could. The closest I came was a patient referred urgently, for what appeared to be a routine problem, who didn’t show up. The notes indicated that they had similar form for 8 out of 9 appointments across different specialties. I wrote to the GP saying I wouldn’t be sending another appointment in place of the latest one they hadn’t bothered to attend, stating that if they need to be seen the GP would need to re-refer.  
 

As in most things the Pareto principle applies - a small proportion of patients cause a large proportion of the issues. GPs and hospital will go out of their way to see people who attend, and we understand that the admin side frequently messes up. My own approach to DNAs - I almost never say ‘send again’. No point wasting another slot, but if the patient contacts us to request another appointment we rebook. Charging £10 is pointless.  

Pretty much the same with dental appointments. No good complaining you can’t see a dentist when the problem invariably lies with those failing to show up for an appointment

[buncha wankas]

3 hours ago, The Voice of Reason said:

Could you give us some examples of conditions that caused them to miss appointments?

Being given appointments for 6 months away 

[Zarley]

6 hours ago, buncha wankas said:

Being given appointments for 6 months away 

There's an easy fix for that. Set up a reminder on your phone for one month, two weeks, one week, two days and first thing in the morning on the day of the appointment. That's what I do and I've yet to miss an appointment through forgetting. 

Watch, now that I've said it, I'll miss that appointment sent to me last January for this September 🙃

[John Wright]

I'm on the boat for Liverpool with an appointment to see my consultant. Had one first week August last year. The appointment for this week had arrived home, by post, before I got home last year. 

[cissolt]

1 hour ago, Zarley said:

There's an easy fix for that. Set up a reminder on your phone for one month, two weeks, one week, two days and first thing in the morning on the day of the appointment. That's what I do and I've yet to miss an appointment through forgetting. 

Watch, now that I've said it, I'll miss that appointment sent to me last January for this September 🙃

Digital reminders are commonplace in most places, i imagine our system has it but it hasn't been turned on

[Zarley]

3 minutes ago, cissolt said:

Digital reminders are commonplace in most places, i imagine our system has it but it hasn't been turned on

I don't know about Nobles, but I get a reminder from my GP as well as my clinic across. This is new, in both instances, since covid. The reminders are a day, two in the case of a Monday appointment, beforehand. 

Edited August 1, 2022 by Zarley
Extra bit

[Gladys]

Noble's send me a text a couple of days ahead of an appointment.  

[The Voice of Reason]

You could argue that if you forgot you had an appointment six months hence it’s not that important to you and therefore there’s not much wrong with you.

Its not like arranging to meet your mate at Port St Mary golf club pavilion for a delicious afternoon tea in half a years time.

[Jarndyce]

13 minutes ago, Gladys said:

Noble's send me a text a couple of days ahead of an appointment. 

Yes, indeed: the appointments office can set this up.   It’s not just a case of switching it on globally - they need your permission to use your phone number for this purpose, so it’s set up on request.

[wrighty]

With covid, our clinic has been phoning people the day before to check that they’re coming and don’t have covid symptoms. We still have no-shows.

[Jarndyce]

9 minutes ago, wrighty said:

With covid, our clinic has been phoning people the day before to check that they’re coming and don’t have covid symptoms. We still have no-shows.

If clinic staff are actually confirming by phone that people are going to turn up - and they still don’t turn up - then some form of sanction might be in order.   Perhaps you could pop round their house with the boys and “have a word”, Wrighty?

[Declan]

12 hours ago, wrighty said:

I’ve never ‘struck off’ anyone - I sometimes wish I could. The closest I came was a patient referred urgently, for what appeared to be a routine problem, who didn’t show up. 

It wasn’t your speciality that I’d heard about. Here it has always been mental health services or similar that are quick to discharge as non-cooperative following no shows. Precisely the people who may have complex needs, or disordered lifestyles. 
 

A friend across with a chronic condition that involves multiple specialties was “struck off” from one specialist (private hospital contracted to NHS) because a flare up in another part of her condition meant she couldn’t attend. 

[2112]

Todays Crisis -

As reported on the NPM, Manx Care, Who Cares? has closed the Minor Injuries Unit at Ramsey Cottage ‘Hospital’ to redeploy the staff to Nobles. Hooperman has been invisible so far.