MEDICAL MATTERS

[Whyperion]

London seems to have a dearth of Foot Nurses - they used to be common in the 1960s

[Big Kev]

Good news at my appointment with the endocrine clinic, the macroadenoma has shrunk a bit and prolactin levels have dropped. Just need to sort the other end and we're on a winner

[PanBiker]

That's good news Kev, I hope your improvement continues. How often are your checks?

[Big Kev]

That's good news Kev, I hope your improvement continues. How often are your checks?

Thank you Ian. Next MRI is December, if there's further improvement it'll be every 2 years.

[PanBiker]

My goes in the MRI scanner are now 2 years apart as well Kev, every year up to five. I should get another go this year around Sept/Oct which post operative will be 7 years. Providing all still OK with that one my next will be at 9 years. I think I will be signed off after 10 years not sure if they do a final scan or not. I assume my named nurse will be stood down from my support. The type of tumour I had removed are hormone driven and can regrow. I think if there is no adverse signs at 10 years you are considered cured, of that particular instance of course.

[Stanley]

Good news for both of you....

[Tripps]

Hands up those who knew that NHS England were a different organisation within the NHS.

I didn't - and I am one who knows from bitter experience, the difference between an ICB (Independent Care Board) and an ICS (Independent Care Serice). There are forty one ICB's and they may be reorganised too.

Much mention today of Lord Andrew Lansley - bringing back pleasant memories of "interviews without coffee" in Tesco and Waitrose, as the opportunity presented itself.

Good luck to Mr Streeting - he'll need it.

[Stanley]

David, I knew it was independent of the NHS proper and always thought it should have been given a name which described its function. Don't ask me what that was because beyond being yet another layer of management, I never understood what the point was.
I often think that the political view of 'management' goes no further than telling lower echelon workers what to do. And if they don't do it 'right', shouting at them. The important thing is to be seen to be active even if it isn't actually accomplishing anything.

[Whyperion]

Men denied life-extending prostate cancer drug BBC Report
Something that if NHS England wont fund , the new efficient service should ?

Hospital-run care home that frees up beds to close
Starmeris reported to be frustrated by civil service ineffiecenty and the BBC headline here appears to affirm that for £5m a year a facility that mops up bed blockers in hospital must surely have greater savings than the cost of running it. Once again the split / division between local authorities (and their funding) and NHS Trusts aplenty (likewise) seems at odds with a real world

[Big Kev]

I can't fault the local district nurse service. They've been providing me with catheter bags. When I left hospital they gave me 5 bags and said to contact my GP surgery for more (the 'night' bags are single use). The surgery contacted district nursing who then contacted me the following day. I received an email with details of s delivery and another 7 were dropped off the next day (at this point I didn't have an appointment for the catheter removal).
A couple of days later the appointment date arrived, 3 weeks away, so I responded to the district nursing email requesting 3 weeks worth which turned up the following day. I thought that would be it but, unfortunately, the 'night' bags being single use have been full by the early hours a few times so I've had to change them (the drain valve can only be opened once). Another email yesterday and another week's worth was dropped off today. Apologies for all the details but it could have been an issue if I couldn't get any more, I certainly can't fault the service.

[Wendyf]

Has the infection cleared Kev?

[Big Kev]

Has the infection cleared Kev?

It has, I'm feeling much better thank you. I took the last of the antibiotics this morning. Just got to wait until the 25th for the catheter removal now, it'll feel like forever. I telephoned the urology department to see if I could get an earlier appointment but no joy.

[Stanley]

I'm glad the infection has cleared but so sorry you have to go through what to me would be torture! Your catheters must be different than the ones Helen my McMillan Nurse used on my weekly immunotherapy sessions. She popped them in and took them out with no problems at all. Making you wait another ten days is awful.....

[Big Kev]

Unfortunately that was the earliest available appointment. I have a Foley catheter that has a 4 to 12 week usage window so I got off lightly with the removal date.

[Stanley]

I feel for you.....

[Whyperion]

Couple of bits :
Independent via MSN Sending Doctors into hospitals clears waiting lists - and improves health outcomes enabling people to look for work

We would you belive it ? Maybe getting a few folk's hip replacements gone through wouldnt be a bad idea.

ScienceAlert . com Via MSN Key Parkinson's Protein Structure And Malfunction Revealed For First Time
And reported elsewhere - I noted it on the BBC but cannot find it now
Bit of an odd one = Scientists have known for more than two decades that mutations in the gene for a protein called PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) can trigger early-onset Parkinson's,
But PINK 1 is not really "triggering" Parkinson's if I read correctly. It's role is basically as brain cells get towards dying they produce internal waste material, PINK 1 attaches to this waste and carries it away , so a bit like the Birmingham Bin men if it doesnt turn up or works faulty then the cell - and I think nearby ones, die off. Treatment seems to be add more healthy PINK 1 (or a genetic thing that does much the same job - trick is to avoid any unwanted side effects ).

The Independent report adds "the fastest growing neurodegenerative condition in the world." without really suggesting why numbers are up - are we living longer - or is there some kind of environmental factor that has/is changing DNA etc in how things work in the body ?

[Big Kev]

A random observation but this may be useful for anyone who ever has the same issue. Apologies for the details. Male catheter irritation relief; swap the bag onto the other leg. I can provide further details if necessary

[Stanley]

That's the sort of information that can't be found when you need it! Well done Kev.

[Whyperion]

See THIS worrying BBC report.
2 hours ago
Repeated failures in how CTs, X-rays and other medical scans are being interpreted are leading to avoidable patient deaths and delays in diagnosing cancer, England's health ombudsman has warned. The most common problems include doctors failing to spot abnormalities, scans being delayed or not carried out, and results not being followed up properly. The ombudsman has upheld or partially upheld 45 cases which include failures in medical imaging in the last four years, and says lessons must be learned to avoid the same mistakes again. NHS England said staff work extremely hard to keep patients safe but acknowledged there was more to do to improve the "response to serious health issues".

quoted from seen in the news.

I thought I read a couple of bits about some radiographers basically not knowing how or where to take a good image from .
and then isnt some of the interpretation now being done by AI which can spot differences more quickly than by human eye either as a first run , or as a second opinion.

[Stanley]

Not long to go now Kev. You are in my thoughts. I would hate it!

[Big Kev]

[Tizer]

A random observation but this may be useful for anyone who ever has the same issue. Apologies for the details. Male catheter irritation relief; swap the bag onto the other leg. I can provide further details if necessary

Thanks for the advice Kev - I hope I never need it!

[Big Kev]

A random observation but this may be useful for anyone who ever has the same issue. Apologies for the details. Male catheter irritation relief; swap the bag onto the other leg. I can provide further details if necessary

Thanks for the advice Kev - I hope I never need it!

I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it's horrendous.

[Stanley]

I hope tomorrow brings some relief Kev.

[Big Kev]

I hope tomorrow brings some relief Kev.

I can't wait