MEDICAL MATTERS

[Big Kev]

But even the smartest phone and app can't give you a prescription which hasn't been sanctioned by the doctor. That's the problem.

Probably easier to email the surgery
reception.barnoldswickmedicalcentre@nhs.net explaining the situation and save yourself some shoe leather.

[Big Kev]

I'm increasingly findig threads I want to contribute to, but refrain from doing so due to the probability of being misunderstood. This is one such.

I can't resist of course - Let's ask the Tony Benn questions - The privatisation of the NHS proceeds apace.
There is no clue as ownership on their main website - though their use of the NHS Logo implies they are a part of it.

Who runs Patient Access?
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited
PATIENT ACCESS is provided by Egton Medical Information Systems Limited("EMIS"), a company registered in England with company number 2117205 with a registered office address of Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA.12 Sept 2022

Not a lot of informatuion here Patient Access - Egton Medicalfor Egton Medical I don't see what their income is for instance, and who pays them.

I worked for EMIS for a few years, initially on the secondary care side, based over in Bolton, then moved to the Leeds office where the servers are for Patient Access.

[Tripps]

Seems there is a lot more info when you look further. They are a public quoted company EMIS Ltd with a share price about £19, and in the process of being taken over as we speak by a French Company.

So a software providing company - long established, and a lot bigger than I imagined, but a contractor to the NHS, who provide a lot of their income, but despite using their logo, is not part of the NHS.

There seems to be a lot of duplication of effort in the medical / prescription field.

[Big Kev]

The share price hasn't changed much, I got £19 each for mine when I left.

[Stanley]

Kev, I spoke to the surgery on the phone and the position we are at is she will be putting an emergency prescription in to the pharmacy today (Couldn't do it yesterday for some undisclosed reason). I shall ask Well for advice but I suspect the time to go for it is this afternoon.
As for next month's, God knows! She is going to ask the doctor to issue a repeat script. (I suspect that's where the problem started in the first place.) So I have emailed the doctor as well. What's the betting they still cock-up......

[Tizer]

In Tripps' earlier post: Who runs Patient Access? Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. PATIENT ACCESS is provided by Egton Medical Information Systems Limited("EMIS"), a company registered in England with company number 2117205 with a registered office address of Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA.12 Sept 2022.
When we signed up to Patient Access we knew it was a private business. It's quite obvious from their web site. In order to be able to do prescriptions online, access records etc we had to apply to our local surgery. They provided us with a list of providers and told us we had to select one and sign up and the company would do the rest. They are all businesses. There was no other way to gain access unless you are an NHS worker when I believe you can do it through the NHS. We've had no problems with Patient Access and it makes our lives easier, which counts for a lot these days!

[PanBiker]

We've had no problems with Patient Access and it makes our lives easier, which counts for a lot these days!

Neither have I Peter, works very well. I'm all for using the tech if it makes life easier. I thought it would be ideal for Stanley as he admits he has mobility issues. I can get to either of our pharmacies but have had problems with one saying they have stuff then it not being available when you get there, much easier to automate the process and just to get stuff delivered, it fits through the letterbox.

[Wendyf]

I used to use Patient Access but now I find it quicker and easier to use the NHS app.

[Stanley]

You mustn't be reading my posts properly Ian. The problem is getting a prescription authorised at the surgery. All the smart apps and delivery services in the world can't cure that fundamental problem.
I have got this months, I shall enquire in good time before January's are due..... Let's see if they blame the doctor then!

[Tripps]

I used to use Patient Access but now I find it quicker and easier to use the NHS app.

That's good to hear. Why complicate matters by involving a third party which is not needed?

I have not understood the dispensing process for a while now. The pharmacy at Tesco were always trying to get me to allow them to manage my repeat prescriptions. I even had a letter (by post) trying to recruit me to a service whereby my prescriptions would be dispensed, and delivered free of charge by Royal Mail. That would not be too good now in view of the postal strikes.

Interesting to see lifelong socialists advocating the use of a private firm which is in business to make "profit" to provide an NHS service. There's a bit of a role reversal going on here.

[PanBiker]

You mustn't be reading my posts properly Ian. The problem is getting a prescription authorised at the surgery. All the smart apps and delivery services in the world can't cure that fundamental problem.

Sorry Stanley but you must not be understanding my posts either. All my repeat prescriptions have to be authorised at the surgery by a doctor. I initiate that by requesting the repeat via the mobile app, simple as that. Usually sorted the same day or the day after and forwarded to the nominated pharmacy. All done electronically and no paperwork involved.

[Stanley]

And what would happen to your system if the doctor didn't authorise the prescription?

[PanBiker]

I would simply check and ask why.

[Stanley]

[Big Kev]

And what would happen to your system if the doctor didn't authorise the prescription?

Mine shows in the app if it's pending, approved or rejected. As soon as it shows as approved it'll be on the pharmacy's system and I can go and collect it. Anything else will be a phone call or an email to the surgery to ask why. It's a 6 mile round trip from here to the chemist so I always make a point to check before I set off.

[plaques]

One for the hypochondriacs or should all have one. The recent covid pandemic has shown that an Oximeter can be a useful tool in monitoring the oxygen levels in the blood. Covid sometimes affecting the efficiency of oxygen transfer from lungs to blood. This has made the oximeter a mass production item that has brought the price crashing down. People may now want to extend their home testing kits beyond temperatures, blood pressure, are left in the dilemma of price V quality. Anyone out there with experience of these gadgets?

[Big Kev]

One for the hypochondriacs or should all have one. The recent covid pandemic has shown that an Oximeter can be a useful tool in monitoring the oxygen levels in the blood. Covid sometimes affecting the efficiency of oxygen transfer from lungs to blood. This has made the oximeter a mass production item that has brought the price crashing down. People may now want to extend their home testing kits beyond temperatures, blood pressure, are left in the dilemma of price V quality. Anyone out there with experience of these gadgets?

Bought one early 2020 from Amazon, paid £20. Does exactly what is says on the tin.

[Tizer]

Same here!

[plaques]

For those who follow Dr J Campbell on his talks about health issues this YouTube video (13 mins) at iCampbell. is interesting on two counts.
1) He gives a update of what is happening in China with their new variant covid outbreak.
2) Touches on the 'contract' the UK has signed with Moderna to develop and manufacture their particular mRNA vaccines for future variants at some undisclosed sum which is said to be commercially sensitive? Interestingly he also touches on the fact that Mr Sunak was a partner in Thelema Partners (8 mins in) which was passed to his wife and where Thelema are incidentally big investors in Moderna. He goes to great lengths to make it clear he is not making any suggestions of corruption but in his own words "its not a good look".

More transparency on the deal and the expenditure that the UK is being committed to is required. This is more important now that NHS spending is under the spotlight.

[Stanley]

What I am going to say now will be parked under 'The Politics of Envy' but circumstances like that are always going to arise when you have prominent political figures with close ties to wealth funds and investment. 'Passing the investment' to his wife doesn't cut it in my book. By the way I am always suspicious when I see mention of a 'blind trust'. Can there ever be such a thing?
Is there anyone in government who is hard up?

[Tizer]

I see that `China will scrap quarantine for travellers from 8 January, officials said, marking the last major shift from the country's zero-Covid policy. After almost three years of closed borders, this will reopen the country to those with work and study visas, or seeking to visit family.' (BBC) Although China claims it has now sorted the covid problem the truth is that the country has millions of infected people. Now they are going to be allowed out into the wide world. Take care!

[Tripps]

Time for brief update.

Later removed as I think there was more detail than I intended.

Those I wanted to see it have done so, and I thank all for the good wishes.

DT.

[Big Kev]

Now the Barlick connection - there's always one. I noted that one of the test results was a d-dimer test. Thanks to Big Kev I know what a d-dimer test is, and what the range of results means. I was 152 and that score for according to Kev is at the very low end. which is good news. Thanks Kev.

Good news on the D-dimer result, just for comparison mine was 6303. Hopefully everything else is OK.

[plaques]

Now the Barlick connection - there's always one. I noted that one of the test results was a d-dimer test. Thanks to Big Kev I know what a d-dimer test is, and what the range of results means. I was 152 and that score for according to Kev is at the very low end. which is good news. Thanks Kev.

Checked out as a result of making a big hole in my lower leg which then swelled up for some reason.
My resuts 22 May. DDimer level.436 ng/mL Normal range 0 - 500

Tripps your result looks pretty good on this count.

[Stanley]

Sorry to hear how you and your son spent the time over Xmas. It's a bugger isn't it. The worst thing is that it's almost certain that no matter how hard I try I will eventually have a similar experience and I dread it because I shall just refuse all treatment and discharge myself once the immediate emergency (whatever that is) is dealt with.
All right, silly I know but I hate hospitals......
Best of luck David, give your lad my best wishes he is a treasure, but you know that.... Look after yourself and keep us updated!