Patient Records
It is reported that doctors are asking for the setting up of the much needed database of patient records which can then be accessed from any hospital anywhere to be slowed down because patients do not understand it. I disagree. The complete inadequacy of the transfer of key information between doctors and hospitals and the appalling opaqueness of the written notes was a major contributory factor leading doctors to take decisions leading to my daughter’s death.
This to me is a no brainer. It has nothing to do with patients’ wishes. If they wish to have the NHS on standby night and day 24/7 for all their lives in case they fall ill, have an accident or face some medical trauma they must allow the setting up of the necessary database of personal information as a condition of getting treatment. Not to agree ties doctors’ hands at a time when the patient may not even be conscious to give vital information. I would have no hesitation in making it a condition of the deal. Opt in to the data base or opt out of the NHS. Period.