A report by the Dept of Health recomm... - Children's Liver ...
A report by the Dept of Health recommends any child with long term health issues should have continuity of care from one GP. Do you agree?
Kirsty-CLDF58 VotersPlease select all that apply:
whilst I have found continuity of care very important, it can also be beneficial to have an alternative opinion. I feel that there needs to be an improvement in communication between those giving care (GPs, Consultants, Nurses etc.) so that each practitioner is aware of the needs of the patient.
Sorry I'd need more information to be able to vote. What exactly does continuity of care mean? When it says one GP does it just mean one GP within your practice or something else?
Hi ConsMum, thank you for your comments. The recommendations around continuity of care are just a small part of the press release issued today on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally C Davies, around healthcare for children within the UK.
The definition of continuity of care, as recorded in the full annual Chief Medical Officers report 2012 is as follows-
'Children with long-term conditions, as vulnerable people, should have a named GP
who co-ordinates their disease management.'. Thanks, Kirsty CLDF
Thanks Kirsty.
The first thing that occurs to me is that people move house and change GP so it's not always possible to have just one all the way through childhood.
At our practice if you want to see a certain GP you have to wait up to 2 weeks for an appointment. If you need an emergency appointment you have to see whoever is covering the duty that day. Quite often that is a locum or a newly qualified Dr, they will go and ask a senior GP's advice though if they need to.
Our hospital letters do go to one of the partners at the surgery, but he doesn't work full time, he shares his time with their other practice, and recently went on a 6 month sabbatical, so if we waited to see him every time we'd have a long wait!
To be honest though, my son very rarely goes to the GP. When he does go I am with him and very happy to point whichever Dr we see in the right direction - ie that he's post transplant, can't have ibuprofen, etc, if they haven't already read it in his notes.
It's probably more important for a child who has a lot of GP appointments so parents don't have to keep repeating themselves, and they can trust that the person treating their child knows their history and will treat them appropriately.
I think in an ideal world the continuity of care at a local level is very important. Personal experience however has shown that GPs aren't necessarily that interested. We have found that the continuity of care from the Consultant is by far more relevant
A child with long term health issues needs continuity of care with a paediatrician. If one is not available near the child's home, then continuity of care with a gp is essential. As well, a child with chronic health problems needs speciality care. For example, a baby diagnosed with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited condition, needs a paediatric liver consultant, and possibly other consultants. The baby's parents would probably do well to meet with a genetic counselor, if there are other children in the family or if the couple plan to have more children.
Can I ask once diagnosed with AIH & PSC how long you waited for a follow up appointment with a specialist nurse....check med's, well being etc...we are trying to understand the day to day management as admitted to hospital tired no stand out symptoms and then tossed into a spin once diagnosed and no answers regarding follow up care. I have RA and once diagnosed I attended a monthly clinic for 12 mths to check wellbeing as well as blood levels with drugs. Once settled I moved to quarterly. I would really appreciate something similar for Nathan😕xx
