Health Report: Who you gonna call?
This month, Gill Cox gives tips on looking after our
health at Christmas, finds out why berries are good for us, reveals
that IBS is not all in the mind and tests cough lozenges
T'is the season to be
merry, but also the season for colds, flu, winter tummy bugs and
even accidents. It helps to be prepared - and to know who to call
for advice. But this year there could be confusion as the
Government has announced it is piloting the new 111 non-emergency
medical telephone service to replace NHS Direct in England.
Currently only in County Durham and Darlington, it should be live
in Nottingham, Lincolnshire and Luton by Christmas. A national roll
out may take up to three years.
So why change? NHS Direct takes 14,000-21,000 calls each day, and
last year cost £123 million. Opened in 1998, operating 24
hours a day, 365 days a year, it was first staffed by trained
nurses. But, as the service grew it became more cost effective to
run with a mix of nurse managers and non-nursing call takers.
Newspapers relished the chance to highlight the failures and
earlier this year, the British Medical Association called for it to
be scrapped, saying it wasn't cost effective and doubting its
expertise. GPs complain the out-of-hours service puts patients at
risk.
So how different will this new 111 service be? It is supposed to
save in the region of £28 million a year, will be staffed by
call advisers with 60 hours of training and supported by nurses,
although there are no details of how many nurses to call advisers
there'll be. However the Department of Health are quick to
point out that, "This is not a cost-cutting exercise. It's
about providing better service."
Whether that happens remains to be seen. Interestingly, Scotland
and Wales have decided not to adopt either the service or number
change.
Prevention is better than cure...
Dr Ulf Demnitz of the Royal Liverpool Hospital NHS Trust,
has suggested these precautions to prevent festive season
casualties:
- Ensure Christmas light cabling is tucked away, not frayed and, if using outdoors, that the lights are suitable and have a circuit breaker.
- Check you've enough prescribed medication for the holiday period.
- If you've health problems, wear MedicAlert jewellery (medicalert.org.uk, 0800 581 420) and keep the information logged up to date.
- Carry a note on you of health problems and medicines you take - in emergencies, friends and relatives may not know enough information and hospitals may not be able to access GP records quickly.
- Alcohol causes most emergency department visits. If someone has passed out, put them on their side so they don't inhale any vomit.
- Ensure toys are suitable for a child's age (it's usually on the pack).
To read more of this article please join Candis or look at page 52 of your December issue.
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