NHS FUTURES

Hello

I have several hypothetical questions that I have set

Now I will set a problem here

When you go to the doctors surgery with your pains and health problems, How would you feel if a nurse or doctor asks you how your mental health was, were you managing etc so that a better holistic approach was undertaken in your name and they can arrange further appointments that may be beneficial

Now a further set you go into a surgery to see the doctor, you had a negative appointment, would you be willing too see a lay person who would act on your behalf to put things right.

A lay person would be installed in the doctors surgery for same.

Now take this further, you are becoming old, you/ your wife etc had a appointment to see the doctor, for a chat regarding health, and wellbeing, to including a mental aptitude test, to find if possibly dementia was appearing of that you are managing in daily life.

This could instigate social care, health problems and mental health all together so each of the departments could all work together to give assistance

Now we take another problem, How would you feel if your mother /father was coming down with dementia, the condition was serious, social services are brought in via the doctors surgery, mental capacity and health capacity were discussed and an occupational therapist was brought in to check at home address to keep the person in home medications were discussed at early stage

Now we progress, your father/mother dies, one is left you need to put the parent in a nursing home, doctor, home nurse social services meet once a year to discuss your parents care, would you want a lay person present to assist and act as friend for you your parent and other caring departments. or could be called anytime if problems arise

Now would you feel that lay persons be available on certain days at above home for dealing as a friend between home doctor and social services for parent.and would be there to make sure nursing home treats well

Now go further, You say have a stroke, would you want not only your mental health but also

medical health checks be undertaken at regular periods, that would be done at doctors surgery, again you could approach a lay person regarding this if problems appear doctors surgery, hospital, social services.

Now extend again a young family ,member takes mentally ill there are lay people in the mental wards to ask as go betweens medicals are performed yearly physically, mentally again there is a problem you are not happy, would you want a layperson to act as friend between different departments

Nothing is decided, nothing has been agreed I have put these different ideas down on my own bat and am trying to understand how people think. this may happen, it may not, it may be ten years time only god can tell and he will not quit All this is my own thoughts

ALL THE BEST

BOB

[Hidden]

In an ideal world, the role of layperson you are describing is a social worker. Social workers should be the link and the organiser of these things you describe.

Social workers are specialised in the needs of a certain age group. And much of what you describe is what they should be doing. At the moment, they are so busy tha t they don't do routine preventative or diagnostic tests, they only do them to confirm something.

In an ideal world they should be the happy "official" face that you can talk to about the little things that bother you, and they bring in other agencies as they see fit.

In the last few years of my Grandma's life, she remained at home, had 3 carers visit during the day and a weekly visit from a geriatric nurse. The nurse was the link back to the gp. Family and friends visited at other times during the day for company, to take her shopping, to church etc.

If its well planned and family take responsibility for their elderly relatives and join in with the care, many older people will not be as miserable as they are. Nor will they have to face and decide on huge life changing issues alone.

[Hidden]

Morning Zanna

One of hypothetical problems that society has is sometimes in a doctors surgery relationships break down, and patients may need a a go between between Surgery and medical staff or some other problem

In hospital environments problems can come about between staff and patients.

When medical problems in a say mental hospital, come about when the medical check ups are not undertake hypothetically.

When dealing in a older patient the three sevices can possibly break down or concure against possible families wishes.

When again when people go for their medical certain things may be missed dementia can be picked up more early, and can be treated more effectivly,again a helping hand for patient may be helpful

In nursing homes now the three caring departments are dealing with a private organization

Would a friend be good to be able to get throug morass as a family rep/friend

Generally sometimes in crisis a supporting hand may be beneficial that is completely separate to three/four caring services

This above is a problem set by me I am interested in the problems associated with mental health dementia

At the moment PALS acts as go between in hospitals. What I am trying to find is how people would feel to be able to get three services or more talking and more accountable to patients and family members also older patients that have no family to count on. Many families will was their hands of older family members that personally seen

Again this is hypothetical, this way happen many years in the future it may not

What sort of health service would You want as a matter of discussion it is as simple as that this may be the way forward it may not the jury is out and not really been called this is possbly for future generations

[teadrinker]

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and being asked by a GP would be a good idea. But there is still a huge stigma attached to mental illness.

Having had it suggested by some doctors that my pain was a figment of my imagination and a by-product of anxiety I have shied away from discussing mental health or indeed any stressful events with them just in case they might jump to the wrong conclusions.Well, on a couple of occasions they did jump to the wrong conclusions and when you ahve a chronic physical problem you need a professional to believe in you. I think these questions need to be asked very carefully, otherwise some patients would avoid medical appointments.

On the other hand, I have also had periods in my life where I have been crying out for a professional to ask how I am really feeling but have felt too awful to bring it up, and being asked has been a moment of relief. How to get the balance right is the tricky question.

[Hidden]

hello

Today I had an appointment with a rhumitology nurse, regarding immunosuppressant drugs

When we were talking certain things came to the fore regarding medications. The nurse asked pertinent questions and became alarmed that my mental health was not right for the medications, she then phoned the doctors surgery to tell them I was not right mentally, I had reactive deppresion that had returned and had not been noticed by me . One long wait at the doctors surgery, I saw a doctor and they were able to give urgent treatment

This is NOT A STORY IT HAPPENED, new procedures were used. Now I ask again how do you feel regarding this,a possible holistic approach That was brought to the fore

All the best, from a relieved

BOB

[teadrinker]

Sorry to hear about your depression, Bob. I hope you begin to feel better soon.

[johnsmith]

What do you mean by lay person. Some so called lay people are more knowledgable about what needs to be done than what a doctor is.

Advocates are lay people. An advocate liasing between a patient and the medical consultant can often enable the patient to get better treatment. A lay person's knowledge of the law can often concentrates a medical consultant's mind on ensuring that that they help a patient as best they can.

I have used so called lay people on quite a few occassions to get better outcomes.

[Lunafair]

This sounds like an idea world.

We live in a system which currently does not work. Ive been under the care of one department in a hospital, and have had to wait months to even get a reply from a referral made to another department WITHIN THE SAME HOSPITAL. Its ridiculous. I've even had physio appointments cancelled due to my "files/paperwork" being lost, and the NHS wonders why so much money is doing so little.

I wish we could have a system more like the one you proposed, with interlinking people to help transition patients and their information between services, as it should all be seen as one big package...

But realistically is that appealing to the big men at the top? Do they really care about having a genuine good quality of life for all of the population... or would they rather scrape along giving people the bare minimum which still allows them to produce, consume, and inherently grow their ecconomy?