Author Archives: Maureen

Patients will view their NHS records online in three years

November 13, 2012   Carers, health

NHS patients will be given online access to their health records in the next three years under plans to be announced by the Government today.

 

The move for online health records comes despite the decision by Andrew Lansley, the previous health secretary, to cancel a massive NHS national database

By , Political Editor

7:00AM GMT 13 Nov 201

Doctors’ surgeries will have to set up services to allow anyone to see their health files, book appointments and order repeat prescriptions on the internet.

People will also be given detailed information on the survival rates and success of treatments in their areas, so they can choose to go to more “successful” hospitals or doctors if they wish.

A Government source said: “Many people are juggling longer working hours with caring for children and older relatives.

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Doctors could Skype patients to save time and money.

November 12, 2012   Carers, telecare

Online video calling such as Skype could be used for GPs consultations with patients and save the NHS money, legal advisers have said.

 

Patients in rural areas or those with disabilities could use Skype to talk to their GP ‘face-to-face’ without having to leave their own home

By , Medical Editor

4:44PM GMT 12 Nov 2012

Providing doctors are aware of the limitations of the technology and are careful that the video link in secure, video calling could reduce the number of missed GP appointments, a medical legal organisation has said.

Patients in rural areas or those with disabilities could use Skype to talk to their GP ‘face-to-face’ without having to leave their own home, the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland said in advice to doctors.

The organisation provides indemnity insurance and legal advice to members.

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Cameron's dementia campaign will be a missed opportunity

November 9, 2012   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia

Unless the Dementia Friends initiative incorporates the Special method, a lot of money and good intentions will go to waste

 

Elderly Germans who have Alzheimer’s disease dance at a community centre in Berlin.

Yesterday’s announcement of a national campaign to increase understanding and awareness of Alzheimer’s could have been very good news. There will be £2.4m of government money given to the Alzheimer’s Society (AS), initially to train 6,000 Dementia Friend volunteers. It is hoped that they, in turn, will go back to their communities and create 1 million people in the population with greater awareness – “dementia friends”.

Alas, this is going to be a case of a wonderful opportunity missed. The core problem with Alzheimer’s and most dementia cases is that the person is no longer storing short-term memories. By the time they receive medical care, the vast majority are already in the mid or even late stage of the illness. Frequently they cannot recall what happened from more than 30 seconds ago. However, there is very solid evidence from brain imaging studies that their long-term memory is nearly always fully, or largely, intact.

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